Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders

Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders
Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders & Hainaut
Spouse(s)	Richilde, Countess of Hainaut
Noble family	House of Flanders
Father	Baldwin V of Flanders
Mother	Adela of France
Born	c. 1030
Died	17 July 1070(1070-07-17)

Baldwin VI (c. 1030 – 17 July 1070), also known as Baldwin the Good, was Count of Hainaut from 1051 to 1070 (as Baldwin I) and Count of Flanders from 1067 to 1070.

Baldwin was the eldest son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela of France, a daughter of king Robert II of France and Constance of Arles. Baldwin VI was also the brother of Matilda of Flanders, Queen consort of England and wife of William the Conqueror, King of England.

His father arranged his marriage, under threat of arms, to Richilde, the widow of Herman of Mons and heiress of Hainaut. As Hainaut was a part of the empire this enraged Henry III who had not been consulted causing him to wage war on the two Baldwins but was not successful. Between 1050 and 1054 Lambert II, Count of Lens fought alongside the Baldwins against Henry III finding that this alliance best protected his interests. Baldwin died 17 July 1070. His early death left Flanders and Hainaut in the hands of his young son Arnulf III, with Richilde as regent. The young Arnulf III was killed the next year at the Battle of Cassel (1071) and Baldwin's younger son eventually became Baldwin II of Hainaut. The countship was soon usurped by Baldwin's brother Robert the Frisian, who became count Robert I of Flanders.