- Louis II of Flanders
Louis II of Flanders (
October 25 ,1330 , Male –January 30 1384 ,Lille ), also Louis III of Artois and Louis I of Palatine Burgundy, known as Louis of Male, was the son ofLouis I of Flanders and Marguerite of France, andCount of Flanders .On his father's death at the
Battle of Crécy in 1346, he inherited the counties ofFlanders ,Nevers , andRethel . On the death of his father-in-law in 1355, he took the title ofDuke of Brabant , but was unable to wrest the duchy from his sister-in-lawJoanna, Duchess of Brabant .The latter years of his rule were marked by civil strife. In 1379, he obtained aid from his son-in-law,
Philip II of Burgundy , to put down a revolt inGhent . The Flemings again rose underPhilip van Artevelde and expelled him from Flanders after theBattle of Beverhoutsveld ; however, the influence of Philip procured a French army to relieve him, and the Flemings were decisively defeated at theBattle of Roosebeke . However, the citizens of Ghent continued to resist (with English aid) until after his death in 1384. His mother had died two years previously, leaving him the counties ofArtois and theFranche-Comte .Family
In 1347, he married Margaret of Brabant (1323–1368), daughter of
John III, Duke of Brabant . They had three children:
* Pierre (died young)
* Charles (predeceased his father)
*Margaret III of Flanders (1348–1405)He also left several illegitimate sons, three of whom were killed at the
Battle of Nicopolis .As he left no surviving sons, on his death, his extensive possessions in the Low Countries were inherited by his daughter Margaret.
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