Clementia de Bourgogne

  Notater:

Clementia of Burgundy (c. 1078 - c. 1133) was a Countess of Flanders by marriage. She acted as regent of Flanders while her husband was on crusade, and ruled through both her husband and son for twenty-six years.

She was the daughter of William I, Count of Burgundy and a noblewoman named Stephanie. Her family was heavily attached to the Catholic Church, with two of her brothers becoming archbishops and another brother becoming Pope Callixtus II.

In 1097, she married Robert II, Count of Flanders and became Countess of Flanders. With her marriage she brought an impressive dower, which included, "one-third of Flanders, including twelve towns located in the maritime and southwestern regions of Flanders, and stretching from Lille to Douai to Bapaume." Because her dower contained so much land and so many towns, it created the opportunity for Clementia to build relationships with the people, which further allowed her to become the "patron of various monasteries, [to] develop bonds of friendship with important families, and help spread comital influence throughout the area. By doing so, [she] developed the power to participate in the rule of Flanders."