Margaret III, Countess of Flanders

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Margaret of Dampierre (13 April 1350 – 16/21 March 1405) was Countess of Flanders (as Margaret III), Countess of Artois and Countess Palatine of Burgundy (as Margaret II) and twice Duchess consort of Burgundy. Through her mother, (Margaret of Brabant, daughter of John III, Duke of Brabant), the younger Margaret was also an heiress of the Duchies of Brabant and Limburg.

[edit] History

She was the daughter and heir of Louis de Mâle, Count of Flanders, Count of Nevers, and Count of Rethel (1346–1384); and his wife Margaret of Brabant. Through his mother Margaret of France, Louis was also Count of Burgundy and Count of Artois (1382–1384).

In 1357, the young Margaret, then seven, married Philip of Rouvres, grandson and heir of Eudes IV, Duke of Burgundy. Philip was eleven years old and her second cousin. He was count of Burgundy and Artois (1347–1361), Duke of Burgundy (1350–1361), and became yet Count of Auvergne and Boulogne (1360–1361).

Margaret was widowed in 1361, and with the death of her husband the duchy of Burgundy was inherited by John II of France (as John I of Burgundy). In 1363 Philip the Bold, John's youngest son, was granted the duchy as Philip II, and subsequently married its former duchess in 1369. Philip had earlier been Duke of Touraine (1359–1363), and became later also count of Charolais (1390–1404). When Margaret's father died in 1384, she and Philip inherited the counties of Artois, Burgundy, Flanders, Nevers, and Rethel. Philip died in 1404, and Margaret died the next year.

According to Guizot, her father had not wished her to marry a Frenchman, being more friendly to England; he was persuaded to agree to the marriage by his mother, Marguerite of France.

[edit] Family

Her eldest son, John the Fearless, succeeded her in 1405 as Duke of Burgundy, Count of Burgundy, Count of Artois, and Count of Flanders. In 1406 her younger son Anthony inherited Brabant and Limburg. Nevers was at first, in her lifetime, given to their eldest son John, but after his accession to duchy, went later to her youngest son Philippe, thus comte de Nevers.

Margaret III, Countess of Flanders House of Dampierre Born: 13 April 1350 Died: 21 March 1405
Preceded by Louis of Mâle	suo jure Countess of Artois and Flanders , suo jure Countess Palatine of Burgundy 30 January 1384–21 March 1405	Succeeded by John the Fearless
	suo jure Countess of Nevers 1384
	suo jure Countess of Rethel : 30 January 1384 – 1402	Succeeded by Anthony of Burgundy
Preceded by Jeanne III, Countess of Burgundy	Duchess of Burgundy by marriage with Philip of Rouvres and Philip the Bold 1357–21 November 1361; 19 June 1369–27 April 1404	Succeeded by Margaret of Bavaria
Preceded by New creation	Countess of Charolais by marriage with Philip the Bold 1390–27 April 1404
Preceded by Eudes IV, Duke of Burgundy	Countess of Artois and Countess Palatine of Burgundy by marriage with Philip of Rouvres 1357–21 November 1361	Succeeded by Philip the Bold
Preceded by John II of France	Countess of Auvergne and Boulogne by marriage with Philip of Rouvres 29 September 1360–21 November 1361	Succeeded by Joan, Lady of Saint-Just