Career
Burchard IV or Bouchard IV (1182–1244) was the lord of Avesnes and Étrœungt. Bouchard began his career as a cantor and subdeacon in the church of Laon. In 1212, he was named bailiff of Hainaut.
In this capacity, he served as tutor and guardian of the young Margaret, sister of Joanna, Countess of Flanders and Hainault.
Neither Joanna nor Count Ferdinand gave their consent, and tried to have the marriage stopped, they failed. Bouchard lived a war-like life.
He then fought at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214, under the (losing) Flemish banner. Philip Augustus, the king of France and victor of Bouvines, then counciled the pope, Innocent III, to declare the marriage of Bouchard and Margaret illegal.
Innocent eventually excommunicated the Bouchard on 19 January 1216.
They took refuge in Luxembourg. In 1219, Bouchard was captured in battle and would be imprisoned in Ghent for two years. To obtain his release, Margaret accepted the dissolution of the marriage and Bouchard left for Italy to fight for the Holy Secretary
Upon his return, he was decapitated at Rupelmonde on the orders of Joanna.
Bouchard and Margaret had three children, who played an important part in the War of the Succession of Flanders and Hainault:
John I (1218–1257), later Count of Hainault
Baldwin (1219–1295), Lord of Beaumont.
