History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 72

FLEMISH DESCENT OF THE LINDSAYS
This article was featured in the March 2002 Newsletter of the Australian Lindsay
Society. Ms. Bostle used the "Lives of the Lindsays" publication and the research
report released by Ms. Beryl Platts to the Lindsay Society of Scotland as her source
material. The article is well written and provides a very concise and clear path of the
descent of the Scottish Lindsays from their Flemish origin.
If any reviewer of this article has a comment and particularly a difference of opinion,
which can be documented, please send these thoughts to Ron Lindsay

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Historical Feature – the Early Lindsays
The Rt. Hon Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, K.T., P.C. recommended Beryl Platts’
research as being the more accurate account of his family’s origins. The paper argues
its theory the Lindsays originated from Flanders - very well indeed. For those
historians who need the references and documentation, you can obtain a copy of Mrs.
Platts’ research paper from the Clan Lindsay Society in Scotland.
This article is the story of the early Lindsays based on Beryl Platts’ work. I hope it
provides a clear picture of the origin of the Lindsays. You may need to keep the ‘family
tree’ handy - it is a useful aid to the relationships between the various branches of the
Lindsays.

Flanders
The great Charlemagne provided the northern part of Europe with its nobility.
Charlemagne’s children married his civil and military administrators. Those families
retained some of that responsibility and power into future generations, giving a
structure to the society of those distant times.
The Carolingian families were found in the comtés north of the Ile de France, east of
Normandy, and west of Germany. The Carolingians were also found in Flanders. At
this time, Flanders included territories like Brabant and Hainaut which, though
theoretically independent, were in practice part of the political ambience of the Flemish
counts, and for long periods under their direct control.
Flemish law forbade noble men and women to marry outside their own class. Many
Carolingian families married distant cousins and the like. This law followed the
Flemish nobility wherever they were. Its effects were especially apparent in Scotland
where all the non-Celtic aristocracy were related.
The descendants of the Counts of Flanders followed two lines. The primary line, the
descendants of the Counts of Flanders, arrived in England in the person of Matilda of
Flanders (granddaughter of Count Baldwin IV of Flanders and Ogive of Luxembourg),
wife to William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.
The secondary line, the descendants of the Lords of Alost, arrived in England when
the sons of Ralph, Lord of Alost and Gisela of Luxembourg (Ogive’s sister)
accompanied William, Duke of Normandy.
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