Male, Belgium 2588029 218887242 2008-06-12T16:45:41Z Wikifalcon 3771076 {{otheruses|Male (disambiguation)}} '''Male''' is a former hamlet and now quarter in the east of [[Sint-Kruis]], a suburb of [[Bruges]], [[West Flanders]], [[Belgium]]. The hamlet, which retains its small historic center, clusters around the castle, famous in large part for being the birthplace of [[Louis II of Flanders|Louis, count of Flanders]] in [[1329]]. The '''Castle of Male''' had its origins in the [[9th century]], as a defense tower for protection of the territory round Bruges against the [[Vikings]]. Male was soon held by [[Philip, Count of Flanders|Philip of Alsace]], [[Count of Flanders]] between [[1168]] and [[1191]], who replaced the wooden structure with stone. Its enlargement included a chapel consecrated by the exiled archbishop of Canterbury, [[Thomas à Becket]], in [[1166]]. The castle was the residence of the counts of Flanders, but also a stronghold in a much-disputed terrain: French forces occupied it; the city of [[Bruges]] retook it from its French garrison in the uprising of [[1302]]; soldiers from [[Ghent]] razed it in [[1382]] and ransacked the rebuilt castle of Male in [[1453]]; it was burnt out in [[1473]] and rebuilt: the present [[keep]] dates from that rebuilding. It stands with its foundations directly in the moat, flanked now by symmetrical wings. Male was plundered again, by forces of the [[House of Orange-Nassau|count of Nassau]] in [[1490]]. As Flanders became a part of the [[Burgundian Netherlands]] Male retained its importance. During the Spanish occupation of the [[Low Countries]], the citadel was sold in [[1558]] by [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] to Juan Lopez Gallo. It was occupied by German troops in both World Wars, and was severely damaged. The castle has been restored and has been a convent since [[1954]]. ==External links== *[http://www.castles.nl/eur/be/mal/mal.html "Castle Male"] *[http://www.damme-online.com/gb/arounddamme/male.htm "Male, birthplace of the Count of Flanders"] {{coor title dm|48|16|N|0|44|E}} [[Category:Castles in Belgium|Male]] [[Category:Flanders]] [[Category:Bruges]] [[nl:Male (België)]]