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Birth:          ABT 1033 of Flanders
Death:          3 Oct 1093 Kassel, Germany

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_I,_Count_of_Flanders
Robert I of Flanders (c.?1035–1093), known as Robert the Frisian, was count of 
Flanders from 1071 to his death in 1093.
Life[edit]

He was the younger son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adèle of France, a daughter of 
King Robert II of France.[1] His elder brother, Baldwin, succeeded their father as 
Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and his sister Matilda of Flanders had married William 
the Conqueror, then duke of Normandy and later King of England. His marriage to 
Gertrude of Saxony, dowager Countess of Holland in 1063 was not arranged by his 
father but nonetheless agreed to.[2] She was the widow of Floris I, Count of Holland, 
who already had three children including a daughter Bertha.[3] His nickname 'the 
Frisian' was obtained, apparently, when he acted as regent for his stepson Dirk V, 
Count of Holland[2] (Frisia being the name for Holland at the time).

On his deathbed in 1070, Robert's brother Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders, left Flanders 
to his eldest son Arnulf III and Hainaut to the next oldest son Baldwin with the 
provision that if either preceded the other in death, he would inherit the other's county 
as well.[4] Baldwin VI further entrusted his brother Robert with the safeguard of his 
son Arnulf III, who was still a minor, to which Robert gave his oath of homage and 
solemn promise to protect his nephew Arnulf.[4] Richilde, Arnulf's mother and de jure 
Countess of Hainaut was to be regent until Arnulf came of age.[5]

After Baldwin VI's death, however, Robert disputed the succession of Arnulf and 
entered Ghent with the intent of taking Flanders for himself.[6] Richilde appealed to 
King Philip I of France who summoned Robert to appear before him.[7] Robert refused 
and continued his war with Richilde at which point Philip I amassed an army which he 
brought to Flanders.[6] His army was accompanied by Norman troops, probably sent by 
Queen Matilda and led by William FitzOsborn.[a][5] William had an interest in marrying 
Richilde but he was killed in battle at Cassel,[5] which battle was joined on 22 
February 1071.[5] In that engagement Robert's forces were ultimately victorious but 
Robert himself was captured and his forces in turn captured the Countess Richilde.[7] 
Both were freed in exchange and the battle continued to its conclusion.[7] Among the 
dead was Arnulf III, killed by Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester who apparently 
fought for Robert.[8] As a result of the battle Robert claimed the countship of 
Flanders.[7] The Countess Richilde and her son Baldwin returned to Hainaut but 
continued to instigate hostilities against Robert.[7]

Count Robert eventually gained the friendship of King Philip I of France by offering 
him the hand in marriage of his stepdaughter, Bertha of Holland.[9] As a part of their 
negotiations Corbie, an important trade center on the border between Flanders and 
lesser France, was returned to royal control.[10] Unlike his father's reign, under Count 
Robert, Flanders no longer had peaceful ties to Normandy and became a refuge for 
the Conqueror's enemies, including his rebellious son, Robert Curthose in 1078.[b][9] 
In 1085 Robert the Frisian, along with his son-in-law Canute IV of Denmark, planned a 
naval attack on England, but after Cnut's assassination the plan was never carried 
out.[9] Taking a considerable armed escort Robert the Frisian made a pilgrimage to 
Jerusalem in 1086 and on the return trip home spent time assisting the Byzantine 
Emperor (Alexios I Komnenos) against the Seljuq Turks.[11] In one battle Robert and 
three of his companions rode ahead of the main army charging the forces under the 
command of Kerbogha, whose forces the Christians scattered completely.[12] Robert 
died 13 October 1093.[1]

Family[edit]

Robert married Gertrude of Saxony, widow of Floris I, Count of Holland. They had the 
following children:
Robert II, Count of Flanders, married Clementia of Burgundy.[1]
Adela of Flanders († 1115); married firstly King Canute IV of Denmark,[1] and was the 
mother of Charles the Good, later Count of Flanders; married secondly Roger Borsa 
d'Hauteville, Duke of Apulia.[1]
Gertrude; married firstly Henry III, Count of Leuven and had four children;[1] and 
secondly Thierry II, Duke of Lorraine,[1] by whom she was the mother of Thierry of 
Alsace, also later Count of Flanders.
Philip of Loo,[1] whose illegitimate son William of Ypres was also a claimant to the 
county of Flanders.
Ogiva, Abbess of Messines.[1]
Baldwin († bef. 1080).[c][1]

Parents
DE LILLE Baldwin V (19 Aug 1012 - 1 Sep 1067)
____ Adela (Adele) (Alix) (Adelaide) (ABT 1009 - 1079)

Siblings
OF FLANDERS Maud (Matilda) (1028 - 2 Nov 1083)
____ Baldwin VI (I) (1030 - 17 Jul 1070)
____ Robert (Robrecht) I "de Fries" ("the Frisian") (ABT 1033 - 3 Oct 1093)

Marriage To OF SAXONY Gertrude (ABT 1028 - 4 Aug 1113)
    m. 1063 

Notes

Parents
____ Bernard II (ABT  995 - 29 Jun 1059)
VON SCHWEINFURT Eilika (Elica) (ABT 1005 - 1059)

Children by OF SAXONY Gertrude ABT 1028 - 4 Aug 1113
OF FLANDERS Adela (ABT 1064 - 1115)
DE FLANDERS Gertrude (ABT 1070 - 1117)

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