Flanders

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Region of the Low Countries that in the 8th and 9th centuries extended from Calais to the Schelde and is now covered by the Belgian provinces of Oost Vlaanderen and West Vlaanderen (East and West Flanders), the French département of Nord, and part of the Dutch province of Zeeland. The language is Flemish. East Flanders, capital Ghent, has an area of 3,000 sq km/1,158 sq mi and a population (1995) of 1,349,400. West Flanders, capital Bruges, has an area of 3,100 sq km/1,197 sq mi and a population (1995) of 1,121,100.

History
It was settled by Salian Franks as Roman allies 358, and in the 6th century, became a province of the Frankish kingdom. Baldwin I (died 879), the son-in-law of Charles the Bald, became its first count 862. During the following 300 years, the county resisted Norman encroachment, expanded its territory, and became a leading centre of the wool industry. In 1194, Philip II married the niece of Count Philip of Alsace (1143–1191), and so began a period of active French involvement in the county.

There was friction within Flemish society between the pro-French bourgeoisie and nobility and the craftworkers in the towns who supported the English, their major partners in the wool trade. In 1302, the craftworkers seized power in Bruges and Ghent and defeated the French at Courtrai, but the pro-French faction regained control of the county 1328. During the Hundred Years' War, Edward III of England put a trade embargo on Flemish wool, which caused serious economic depression, and led to further popular revolts, which were finally put down at the battle of Roosebeke 1382 by the French. The last count, Louis de Male, died 1384, and the county was inherited by his son-in-law, Philip the Bold of Burgundy (1342–1404), to become part of the Burgundian domains.

Flanders underwent a decline under Austrian rule in the 17th to 19th centuries. Fierce battles were fought here in World War I, such as the Battle of Ypres. In World War II the Battle of Flanders began with the German breakthrough 10 May 1940 and ended with the British amphibious retreat from Dunkirk 27 May–4 June.