Charles the Good (1080/86 - March 2, 1127) was Count of Flanders from 1119 to 1127. He is most remembered for his murder and its aftermath.

Charles was a son of Canute IV of Denmark and Adela of Flanders. His father was assassinated in 1086, and Adela fled to Flanders, taking the very young Charles with her. Charles grew up at the comital court of his grandfather Robert I and uncle Robert II. In 1092 Adela left for southern Italy to marry Roger Borsa, duke of Apulia.

In 1111 Robert II died, and Charles' cousin Baldwin VII became count. Charles was a close advisor to the new count (who was several years younger), who around 1118 arranged Charles' marriage to the heiress of the count of Amiens, Margaret of Clermont.

The childless count Baldwin was wounded fighting for the king of France in September 1118, and he designated Charles as his successor before he died in July 1119.

Charles was noted for his kindness and generosity towards the poor, and during a time of famine he distributed bread to them. He also took action to prevent grain from being hoarded and sold at excessively high prices. Some of those engaged in that activity then conspired to kill Charles, which they accomplished at the Church of St. Donatian in Bruges. The murder of the popular Charles provoked a great deal of outrage, and he was soon regarded as a martyr and saint.

After Charles' death, his second cousin William Clito was briefly count, and then Charles' first cousin Thierry of Alsace became count.

References

Galbert of Bruges, The Murder of Charles the Good, translated, with an introduction and notes by James Bruce Ross ISBN 0802064795