Count of Hainaut


The Count of Hainaut was the ruler of the county of Hainaut, a historical region in the Low Countries. In English-language historical sources, the title is often given the older spelling Hainault.

List of counts of Hainaut

10th century

Throughout the 10th century, it is uncertain whether the region of Hainaut was ever united under one count. Separate counties may for example have existed based at the forts of Mons and Valenciennes.
Counts of Mons
  • Renaud
  • Godfrey II "the captive"
  • Reginar IV
  • Reginar V, acquired the southern part of the Brabant province around 1024
  • Herman, married Richilde, acquired Valenciennes around 1045 or 1049
Counts and Margraves of Valenciennes
Under Herman and Richilde Hainaut was united in a single consolidated County of Hainaut.

House of Flanders

Stephen II of Bavaria and Albert I
Charles II proclaimed the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 eternally uniting Hainaut with the other lordships of the Low Countries in a personal union. When the Habsburg empire was divided among the heirs of Charles V, the Low Countries, including Hainaut, went to Philip II of Spain, of the Spanish branch of the House of Habsburg.
Between 1706 and 1714 the Low Countries were invaded by the English and the Dutch during the War of the Spanish Succession. The fief was claimed by the House of Habsburg and the House of Bourbon. In 1714, the Treaty of Rastatt settled the succession and the County of Hainaut went to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg.
  • Charles IV, great grandson of Philip III, als Holy Roman Emperor
  • Mary Theresa, daughter of Charles IV, married Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
  • Joseph I, son of Maria Theresa and Francis I, also Holy Roman Emperor
  • Leopold I, son of Maria Theresa and Francis I, also Holy Roman Emperor
  • Francis I, son of Leopold I, also Holy Roman Emperor
The title was factually abolished in the aftermath of the French Revolution and the annexation of Flanders by France in 1795. Although, the title remained officially claimed by the descendants of Leopold I until the reign of Charles I of Austria.

Family tree (1055–1433)

Modern usage

House of Belgium

In the Kingdom of Belgium, the title of Count of Hainaut was traditionally given to the eldest son of the Belgian crown prince, who was himself styled as Duke of Brabant. In 2001, with the birth of Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, heir and elder daughter of Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, it was decided not to feminise and award her the title of Countess of Hainaut, but to abolish the title.