Philip I of Namur

Philip I (1175 – 9 October 1212), called the Noble, was the margrave of Namur from 1195 to his death. He was the second son of Baldwin V, Count of Hainault, and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders. His paternal grandmother was Alice, Countess of Namur.

Baldwin V had fought a war with his uncle, Henry IV of Luxembourg, to establish Namur as independent from Luxembourg in 1190 and in 1194, the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI declared Namur to be a margraviate. Baldwin's will left Namur to Philip, but as a fief of Hainault. However, Theobald I of Bar, who had married Henry of Luxembourg's heiress, Ermesinda, refused to relinquish Namur and attacked Philip. The war lasted for three years until the Treaty of Dinant, signed on 26 July 1199, recognised Philip as holder of Namur.

Philip was left as regent of Hainault while his elder brother Baldwin VI went on the Fourth Crusade and acted as guardian to the young heiresses Joanna and Margaret.

During a war with France, Philip was subsequently imprisoned and only bought his freedom by marrying Marie, daughter of King Philip Augustus and Agnes of Merania, and sending his nieces as envoys to the royal court of France. This insulted the barons of Flanders and Hainault and they revolted and forced him to give up the regency.

In Namur, Philip's reign was a peaceful and pious promoter of social development. He intervened as the mediator between many feuding lords. He died of dysentery on 9 October 1212 in Valenciennes. He had designated his nephew Philip of Courtenay as heir.