Page "Flanders" Paragraph 10

* When Flandria appeared in the 8th century, it was a Frankish fief centred on Bruges.

The region's name is thought to derive from an Ingvaeonic stem flām-meaning " flooded land " ( from Proto-Germanic * flauma -).

Originally this name referred to the polders surrounding Bruges and dates from a period before the counts of Flanders expanded their territory.

In the 14th century, the county of Flanders reached its maximum size, and became the wealthiest part of the Seventeen Provinces.

It extended over the modern-day Belgian provinces of East Flanders, West Flanders, and Hainaut.