Margaret I of Flanders was a notable medieval ruler born around 1350. She became the Countess of Flanders, Hainaut, Rethel, and Nevers after the death of her father, Louis I, Count of Flanders. Margaret was known for her strong leadership and played a significant role in the politics of the Low Countries during her reign. Margaret married Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, which strengthened the ties between Flanders and the Burgundian state. Her marriage helped to consolidate power and influence in the region, paving the way for the rise of the Burgundian Netherlands in the late Middle Ages.