Origin Anselm of Ribemont was the
castellain of
Bouchain, Ostrevant and
Valenciennes in the late eleventh century. His father died fighting in the
battle of Cassel in 1071 fighting in company of count
Eustace II of Boulogne for the losing side of
Arnulf III, Count of Flanders. After the battle, Anselm continued to support Arnulf's mother
Richilde and his brother
Baldwin II, Count of Hainaut. Anselm was known for his piety and devotion, especially to
St. Quentin, the patron of the region he lived in. Anselm was also friend of archbishop
Manasses II of Reims, benefactor of the religious communities of
St. Amand and
Anchin and founder of the monastery of Ribemont.
First Crusade Anselm joined the First Crusade in the company of
Eustace III of Boulogne who was part of the
army of Robert II of Flanders. In order to finance the pilgrimage, he took up a mortgage which could be redeemed by his wife, son or any heir. He also settled a dispute with the monks of the
Saint-Amand Abbey over rights over mills. Anselm was accompanied by a certain abbot Roger who served as his chaplain and whose death Anselm reported in his first letter. He is likely to have been one of the lower important nobles who participated in the council of princes that governed the army of the First Crusade. Anselm's death during the
Siege of Arqa, dated to 25 February 1099, is related in most sources. According to the chroniclers of the crusade, he experienced a vision before his death in the night or siesta before in which he met the recently deceased
Enguerrand of St Pol who informed him that he would soon join him in
Heaven.
Family Anselm had one son, Godfrey II, who married in 1120 Yolanda of Hainaut, widow of
Baldwin III, Count of Hainaut. Anselm's sister Agnes married
Walter Giffard, 1st Earl of Buckingham. ==Letters==