County of Flanders

The County of Flanders was a powerful medieval county and historic territory in the Low Countries, founded in 866 CE and dissolved in 1797. Located on the North Sea coast of modern-day Belgium and north-eastern France, it was initially within the Kingdom of France, with its counts among the original twelve peers of France. The economic activity of Flemish cities like Ghent and Bruges made it one of Europe's most affluent regions. From 1384, it was politically united with the Duchy of Burgundy, forming the basis for the Burgundian Netherlands. By 1477, it came under Habsburg rule, and most of Flanders became part of the Holy Roman Empire after 1529, eventually ruled under the Spanish Habsburg crown.