The counts of Flanders ruled over the county of Flanders from the 9th century. The early rulers from Arnulf I onwards were sometime referred to as margraves (or marquis). This alternate title largely fell out of use by the 12th century.

The counts of Flanders enlarged their estate through a series of diplomatic manoeuvres. The counties of Hainaut, Namur, Bethune, Nevers, Auxerre and Rethel, as well as the duchies of Brabant and Limburg, were acquired via marriage with the respective heiresses. Ironically, the county of Flanders itself, along with all its possessions, suffered the same fate and was annexed by the duchy of Burgundy in 1405.

• Baldwin I Iron Arm (864-879)
• Baldwin II the Bald (879-918)
• Arnulf I the Great (918-964)
• Baldwin III (958-962), died before his father, was co-ruler
• Arnulf II (964-988)
• Baldwin IV the Bearded (988-1037)
• Baldwin V of Lille (1037-1067)
• Baldwin VI (1067-1070), also count of Hainaut
• Arnulf III (1070-1071), also count of Hainaut
• Robert I the Frisian (1071-1093)
• Robert II of Jerusalem (1093-1111)
• Baldwin VII Hapkin (1111-1119)
• Charles the Good (1119-1127)
• William I Clito (1127-1128), great-grandson of Baldwin V, grandson of William I of England
• Thierry of Alsace (1128-1168), grandson of Robert I
• Philip of Alsace (1168-1191)
• Margaret I of Alsace (1191-1194), with her husband Baldwin V of Hainaut, who ruled as Baldwin VIII of Flanders between 1191 and 1195
• Baldwin IX of Constantinople (1195-1205), also count of Hainaut and Byzantine emperor
• Jeanne of Flanders (1205-1244), also countess of Hainaut, with her husbands prince Fernando of Portugal and count Thomas II of Savoy
• Margaret II (1244-1278), also countess of Hainaut
• Guy of Dampierre (1278-1305)
• Robert III of Bethune (1305-1322)
• Louis I of Nevers, count of Nevers and Rethel (1322-1346)
• Louis II of Male (1346-1384)
• Margaret III (1384-1405), with her husband Philip of Valois, Duke of Burgundy
• John the Fearless (1405–1419)
• Philip the Good (1419–1467)
• Charles the Bold (1467–1477)
• Mary of Burgundy (1477–1482)

The title of Count of Flanders passed to the Habsburgs.

• Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor 1493 - 1519
• Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor 1519 - 1556

The Habsburg empire was divided into parts. Flanders went to the Spanish throne

• Philip II of Spain, son of Charles V, 1556 - 1598
• Philip III of Spain 1598 - 1621
• Philip IV of Spain 1621 - 1665
• Charles II of Spain 1665 - 1700

...

In 1714 after the War of the Spanish Succession, Flanders went back to the Austrians ...

• Maria Theresa of Austria
• Jozef II

The title was abolished in the aftermath of the French revolution in 1794?? ...

In modern times, the title of count of Flanders has been given to younger sons of the kings of Belgium:

• Philippe, son of Leopold I of Belgium
• Charles, son of Albert I of Belgium

See also

• Counts of Flanders family tree