the Succession of Flanders and Hainault. In 1246, King Louis IX of France awarded Flanders to William. House of Dampierre House of Burgundy House of Habsburg Charles V proclaimed the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549 eternally uniting Flanders with the other lordships of the Low Countries in a personal union. When the Habsburg empire was divided among the heirs of Charles V, the Low Countries, including Flanders, went to Philip II of Spain, of the Spanish branch of the House of Habsburg. House of Bourbon Between 1706 and 1714, Flanders was invaded by the English and the Dutch during the War of the Spanish Succession. The fief was claimed by the House of Habsburg and the House of Bourbon. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht settled the succession and the County of Flanders went to the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg. House of Habsburg The title was abolished de facto after revolutionary France annexed Flanders in 1795. Emperor Francis II relinquished his claim to the Low Countries in the Treaty of Campo Formio of 1797, and the area remained part of France until the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Modern usage House of Belgium (formerly House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha) In modern times, the title was granted to two younger sons of the kings of the Belgians. Prince Philippe, son of King Leopold I of Belgium (1840–1905) Prince Charles, son of King Albert I of Belgium (1910–1983) House of Bourbon The title, Count of Flanders, is one of the titles of the Spanish Crown. It is a historical title which is only nominally and ceremonially used. Sources See also Counts of Flanders family tree Flemish nobility Flanders Belgian titles of nobility