THE CONTRIBUTION OF FLANDERS
TO
THE CONQUEST OF ENGLAND 1065-1086
Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, was in a position so remarkable in 1066 that his aid was sure to be sought for any undertaking of note in northern Europe. Since 1060 he had been regent in France, which office he was to hold until the majority of Philip I. His daughter Matilda was the wife of William, Duke of Normandy. His sons had married into Hainaut and Holland (*), while a sister had allied his family with the English house of Godwin.
A member of the last named family was the first to crave aid of the count in the troublous times beginning with 1065, for in that year we find the banished Tostig wintering with his wife at S* Orner. There Baldwin furnished them with sumptuous quarters. (2). Doubtless Tostig had passed through Flanders on his pilgrimage in 1061 (3), but now he came on a definite errand. He desired not only refuge, but aid that he might revenge himself on Harold and the Northumbrian nobles. Whether or not William of Normandy actively assisted him is not quite
(!) For appreciations of Baldwin's position see Galbert of Bruges, (éd. H. Pirenne), 110, and Vita Aeduuardi, 423 ff.
(2) A. S. C, Peterborough, s. a. 1064, Worcester and Abingdon, s. a. 1065 ; Florence of Worcester (ed. Thorpe), i. 223 ; Vita Ae,- duuardi, 424.
Florence of Worcester, i, 218.
(3) β
