William of Ypres

William of Ypres (Dutch: Willem van Yper; c. 1090 – 24 January 1165) was a Flemish nobleman and one of the first mercenary captains of the Middle Ages. Following two unsuccessful bids for the County of Flanders, William became King Stephen of England's chief lieutenant during the civil war of 1139–54 known as the Anarchy. He held Kent, though not the title of earl, until the early years of King Henry II's reign, when he returned to Flanders.

William was an illegitimate son of Philip of Loo, who was the son of the Flemish count Robert the Frisian. William's mother was a wool carder, which further diminished his status; Louis VI of France pointed out that she never rose from that station. His brother, Theobald Sorel, was likely born of another relationship of hers. His maternal origin did not prevent him from having a large influence in Flanders.

A succession crisis ensued in the County of Flanders in 1119 upon the sudden death of the childless Count Baldwin VII, William's cousin. Though illegitimate, William remained the last male-line descendant of Count Robert the Frisian. His claim to the countship was supported by Baldwin's mother, the powerful dowager Clementia of Burgundy, but Flanders nevertheless passed to the Danish prince Charles the Good, son of Robert I's daughter Adela. The chronicle of Galbert of Bruges attributes his failure to his illegitimate birth.

Charles was assassinated in March 1127, and the perpetrators offered the countship to William, but he did not wish to be associated with them. Louis VII, as feudal overlord, rejected William's claim using his mother's status as an excuse, but this time William responded with force. He used funds allegedly given to him by King Henry I of England to hire 300 mounted warriors, with whom he occupied Ypres and forced its merchants to accept him as count. Henry was eager to prevent Flanders from passing to his nephew, William Clito, another contender and second cousin of William of Ypres, as William Clito also laid claim to Henry's Duchy of Normandy. The war united him with another nephew of Henry and likewise a second cousin, Stephen of Blois. Ypres was besieged a month later by William Clito and Louis VI of France. After bitter fighting, the gates of Ypres were opened by the citizens, and William of Ypres was imprisoned along with his brother on 10 September. The imprisonment was brief, as was the reign of his namesake relative, who died in July. William sought the county again, but could not prevail against Thierry of Alsace, son of his aunt Gertrude, who banished him from Flanders in 1133.

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