History of the Hainaut

Hainaut was inhabited by the Germanic Nervians in the Old Ages, who Julius Cæsar subjected to the Roman Empire in the first century BC. Caesar noted that the Belg people were very strong. Later on, Hainaut part of the Francian Empire and Lorraine. In the 10th century, the county contained most of the area of the present-day province. It was twice untied with Flanders, first by count Boldwin VI (I in Hainault), who could keep it for the period of his reign (1051-1071), and a second time by Boldwin VIII (V in Hainault). The last unification lasted until 1280. From 1299, John of Avesnes also ruled over Holland and Zeeland. In 1433, duchess Jacoba had to cede her inheritance to Philip III le Bon (the Good) of Bourgondy. In the 16th and 17th century, Hainaut was one the Seventeen Provinces of the Low Countries.