Matilda of Béthune
| Matilda of Béthune | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Guy, Count of Flanders |
| Noble family | House of Bethune |
| Father | Robert VII, Lord of Béthune |
| Mother | Elisabeth of Morialmé |
| Died | 8 November 1263 |
| Buried | Abbey of Flines-lez-Raches |
Matilda of Béthune (died 8 November 1263), was countess consort of Flanders by marriage to Guy, Count of Flanders, and heir to the titles Lady of Béthune, of Dendermonde, of Richebourg and of Warneton, as well as Advocatess of the Abbey of Saint Vaast at Arras. She was the mother of Robert, Count of Flanders, known as Robert of Béthune after his mother.
Matilda, also referred to as Mathilde or Mahaut, was born about 1230, the first child of Robert VII, Lord of the castle and town of Béthune and Advocate of the Abbey of St. Vaast at Arras, who was a major landowner and one of the twelve peers of Flanders. Her mother was Elizabeth, widow of Nicholas I, Lord of Condé, and daughter of Arnold IV, last Lord of Morialmé (fr). Robert and Elizabeth had two further daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah.
About the age of 16, Matilda was engaged to Guy of Dampierre, who was made co-ruler of Flanders by his widowed mother Margaret II, Countess of Flanders alongside her and his elder brother William III of Dampierre, who died in 1251. In recognition of this important match for his eldest daughter, Robert of Béthune endowed her with the major part of his lands and titles.
In October 1245, she still under age and unmarried, he made her heir to the ancient lands of his ancestors outside Béthune, the Pays de l'Alleu (fr) in which he held power of life and death. The marriage contract was signed on 2 February 1246 and the wedding then took place in Béthune. 0n 24 June 1248 Robert and Elizabeth wrote a letter to Guy and Matilda confirming that the two would inherit his lands and titles, which happened shortly after when news reached France of Robert's death.
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