Barons and castellans · Flanders and Hainaut · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Chimay

The lord of the forest country of Chimay on the southern edge of Hainaut, towards the bishop of Liege's Couvin and the French Thierache.

With Walter of Avesnes he is one of Baldwin's two closest allies among the Hainaut barons, and one of the six who seal the general charters of Hainaut in July 1200.

Who he is

Name
Alard of Chimay
Title
Lord of Chimay, a peer of Hainaut
Since
Not pinned
Born
Not pinned
Family
The lords of Chimay
Confidence
medium

Ruffini-Ronzani 2024: his seal hangs on the charters of Hainaut of 28 July 1200, as one of the count's two closest allies with Walter of Avesnes.

Overlord

The count of Hainaut.

What it holds

  • Chimay: castle and lordship, with the forests of the Fagne and Thierache border

How it was acquired

Inheritance (not pinned).

Allies and rivals

The count of Hainaut; Walter of Avesnes; neighbour of Liege's Couvin.

How things stand that morning

Holds Chimay in peace.

Wealth

Forests, iron, rents.

Military

Castle of Chimay.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 28 July 1200Seals the charters of Hainaut at Mons.Depends on: Peace. Stopped by: War.

Places of note

  • Castle of Chimay: Seat

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Known from the 1200 charters; the extent of the lordship is approximate.

On the map: Approximate.

Primary sources for Flanders

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

  • Chronicle of Alberic of Trois-Fontaines, Alberic of Trois-Fontaines (about 1227 to 1241, at the Cistercian abbey of Trois-Fontaines in Champagne). The widest net of any Latin chronicle for 1200, compiled from dozens of sources, many now lost. Read online
  • Chronicle of Andres, William of Andres (about 1220 to 1234). The chronicle and cartulary of a small abbey between Guines and Ardres, near the border of Flanders and Boulogne. Read online
  • Chronicle of Hainaut, Gislebert of Mons (about 1195 to 1196). Ends in 1195, so it has no 1200 entries, but it is the indispensable background for Flanders and Hainaut: the career of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut (VIII of Flanders), his union of the two counties, the settlement with Philip over Artois, the rights, castles, fiefs and vassals of Hainaut listed by a man who ran its chancery, and the youth of Baldwin IX, who held both counties in 1200. Read online
  • Chronicle of Robert of Auxerre, Robert of Auxerre (Robert of Saint-Marien) (about 1190 to 1211; continued at Saint-Marien to 1227). A universal chronicle whose last twenty years are contemporary and well informed from Burgundy and the Auxerrois. Read online
  • Universal Chronicle of the Anonymous of Laon, Anonymous (an English-born canon of Laon) (about 1219). A Picard chronicle whose author had lived in England and keeps an eye on both kingdoms. Read online
  • Annals of Egmond (12th century to about 1205). The house annals of Egmond, the counts of Holland's abbey, and the main native source for Holland around 1200. Read online
  • Chronicle of Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
  • Deeds of Philip Augustus, Rigord (about 1186 to 1206, in stages). The French court's own chronicle for the year, from the monk of Saint-Denis who called himself the king's chronographer. Read online

8 more in the sources library for France and Iberia.

Sources and studies

  1. N. Ruffini-Ronzani, Laws in the Making (2024, UNamur)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.