Bouchard IV of Avesnes

Burkhard of Avesnes (franz Bouchard d' Avesnes, * 1182, † 1244 in Rupelmonde ) was a French nobleman from the House of Avesnes.

He was the youngest of four sons of Sire Jacob of Avesnes and of Adela de Guise. As the youngest of the family, he was scheduled for an ecclesiastical career, was choirmaster of Laon and received ordination as subdeacon. 1211 Burkhard left the clergy and feuded his brother Walter. He entered the service of Count Ferrand of Flanders, who appointed him to the Bailiff of Hainaut.

There he was charged with the care of the young Margaret, sister of Countess Joan of Flanders, entrusted. Instead, he abducted the first ten years of Margaret and married her to be able to take over their Flemish heritage in hope. Countess Johanna did not recognize the marriage, as Burkhard was ordained as a subdeacon under marriage ban. 1214 Burkhard took part in the Battle of Bouvines against the French. Supported by the French king Philip II Augustus reached Countess Johanna in 1216 by Pope Innocent III. excommunication Burkhard, who went out with Margaret in exile in Luxembourg. Although every place of exile threatened the interdict, Burkhard received hospitably received not only in secular princes, but also in the dioceses of Laon, Cambrai and Liege.

Finally in 1220 he got into a fight in captivity and was held in Ghent. To secure his release, Margaret agreed to the annulment of their marriage. A few years later she married William II of Dampierre. Burkhard left after his release, his home and fought in Italy for the Holy See. When he returned to Flanders in 1244, he was beheaded on the orders of Countess Johanna in Rupelmonde.

Progeny

From his canonically illegitimate marriage to Margaret he had two sons whose claims led to the outbreak of the Flemish War of Succession to the heritage of their mother. They were only legitimized by the Pope in 1249.

• John of Avesnes (* 1218, † 1257 ), Count of Hainaut in 1246
• Baldwin of Avesnes (* 1219, † 1295), Lord of Beaumont