testamentary practices at the comital court in flanders and hainaut Guy de Dampierre (1259);15 of Guy de Dampierre himself (April 1299);16 and finally of Robert de Béthune (August 1298), son of Guy and Mahaut.17 Most of these documents dated prior to 1250 are to be found in the charter database Diplomata Belgica (DiBe).18 The remaining documents of the corpus, some of which are still unedited, were consulted at theArchives départementales du Nordin Lille, where they are part of a Série B collection known as ‘Les testaments des princes’.19 The political context in which the last wills were produced helps us understand their content and form. As the eldest of two daughters, Joan of Constantinople succeeded her father BaldwinVI/IXat avery young age.20 When she died childless in December 1244, she was succeeded by her younger sister Margaret. While Joan’s reign (1212–1244) was characterised by an increasing control over Crown Flanders by her overlord the French king and various conflicts with the nobility in both of her counties, Margaret’s reign (1244–1278 in Flanders/1280 in Hainaut) was largely overshadowed by the battles over succession among her sons from her successive marriages to Burchard d’Avesnes and WilliamII deDampierre, her continuous efforts to preserve her imperial territories, and a trade war with England.21 These perilous circumstances forced both 452 15 Preserved copy or draft version of Mahaut’s testament (March 1259) and codicil (February 1261) (Lille, ADN, B446/1202-1264). Testamentary roll including a detailed list of Mahaut’s bequests (undated) (Lille, ADN, B446/1214). 16 Original testament (April 1299) and codicil (transfix, May 1304) (Lille, ADN, B449/4181, Musée 119); copy or draft version of the codicil (May, 1304) (Lille, ADN, B449/4437). 17 Unsealed copy or draft version of the testament (August 1298) (Lille, ADN, B448/4107); official testament (September 1322) with transfix confirmation act of the bishop of Thérouane (1236) (Lille, ADN, B448/5473). 18 See also note 4 above. 19 Lille, ADN, Série B, Layette 13, cartons B444, B445, B446, B448, andB449. 20 Countess Joan was presumably only six years old when her father disappeared in Bulgaria in 1205. On her reign, see Luykx 1946, passim; Nicholas 1999, pp.111–137; de Hemptinne 1982, pp. 372–402; Jordan 2006; De Paermentier 2011, pp. 91–112 and 2014, pp. 55–70. 21 Imperial Flanders encompassed the part of Flanders located east of the River Scheldt. It was indirectly held by the count from the German emperor through the Prince-Bishop of – Political context
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjYyNDk=