Baldwin of Béthune or Baldwin de Béthune (French: Baudouin de Béthune Dutch: Boudewijn van Béthune) (c. 1158–1212), a French knight from the House of Béthune in Artois and a crusader, was close companion to successive English kings and on marriage to Hawise of Aumale became Count of Aumale with extensive estates in England. Origins Baldwin was the third son of Robert V of Béthune, hereditary Lord of Béthune and advocate of the Abbey of Saint Vaast at Arras, and his wife Alice, daughter of Hugh III, Count of Saint-Pol. His brothers included: Robert VI of Béthune, Advocate of Arras and Lord of Béthune; William II of Béthune, who succeeded his brother as Advocate of Arras and Lord of Béthune; John of Béthune, Bishop of Cambrai; and Conon of Béthune, poet, crusader and Regent of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. His date of birth is unknown but would have been shortly before 1160, probably at Béthune. Career His career was as a knight in royal service, though not with the kings of his native France but with their English opponents. In 1170, still in his teens, he was with his lifelong friend, William Marshal in the court of Henry the Young King. In 1180 at the great international tournament of Lagny-sur-Marne, he was a knight banneret, leading the Flemish team while William headed the English team. About 1187, he was rewarded with his first landholding in England and, once king, Richard I of England added the lordship of several other manors. These not only gave him income but also, at least as important in those times, added to his rank of knight the status of a feudal landowner. In 1191 he was with Richard's contingent on the Third Crusade in Palestine where his father Robert, who was with the Flemish contingent, died. When Richard set out on his incognito voyage home in 1192, Baldwin was with him. They were blown ashore in a December storm near Aquileia and the disguised Richard was captured by his Austrian enemies at an inn near Vienna. Baldwin stood hostage for him, let loose to organise a ransom into which he put not only months of effort but much of his own money as well. As well as cash to free Richard, Leopold V, Duke of Austria wanted two princesses, including Eleanor, niece of Richard. Early in December 1194, Baldwin was sent with two princesses to