Background
He was the younger son of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut.
He was the younger son of Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders and Richilde, Countess of Mons and Hainaut.
Baldwin joined the First Crusade in the company of Godfrey of Bouillon (rather than with his nearer relative Robert II of Flanders, whose family was still at odds with his own), after selling some of his property to the Bishopric of Liège. In 1098 he was sent back to Constantinople with Hugh of Vermandois after the siege of Antioch, to seek assistance from Byzantine emperor Alexius I. However, Baldwin disappeared during a raid by the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia, and was presumably killed. Baldwin"s fate remained uncertain for a long time.
Their children were:
Baldwin III, Count of Hainaut
Louis, living 1096
Simon, a canon in Liege
Henry, living 1096
Willem, died after 1117
Arnould.
M. Beatrix von Ath (b c 1075 – before 1136), daughter of Walter von Ath and Ade de Roucy. Father of Eustace the Elder of Roeulx.
Ida, (c 1085 – after 1101). 1m: Guy de Chievres; 2m: c.
1100 Thomas, Lord of Coucy (also called Thomas of Marle)
Richilde, (c 1095 – after 1118).
M. c. 1115 (div 1118) Amaury III de Montfort. Aelidis, (before 1098 – 1153).
M. Nicolas II de Rumigny.