Robert I, Count of Flanders

Robert I of Flanders
Robert I Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
Reign	22 February 1071 to 13 October 1093
Predecessor	Arnulf III
Successor	Robert II
Spouse(s)	Gertrude of Saxony
Noble family	House of Flanders
Father	Baldwin V of Flanders
Mother	Adèle
Born	c. 1035
Died	1093

Robert I of Flanders (c. 1035–1093), known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1071 to his death in 1093.

He was the younger son of Baldwin V of Flanders and Adèle of France, a daughter of King Robert II of France. His elder brother, Baldwin, succeeded their father as Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and his sister Matilda of Flanders had married William, 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. She was the widow of Floris I, Count of Holland, who already had three children including a daughter Bertha. His nickname 'the Frisian' was obtained, apparently, when he acted as regent for his stepson Dirk V, Count of Holland (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. 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.Richilde, Arnulf's mother and de jure Countess of Hainaut was to be regent until Arnulf came of age.