Hainault, the region of the Netherlands occupied anciently by
the Nervii, became a county under hereditary lords in the 9th
century. In the 11th century it was joined by marriage to the
territories of the counts of Flanders, and so remained, until
the beginning of the 14th century. In 1300 Hainault and
Holland became joined under the same family of counts.
See NETHERLANDS: A. D. 922-1345.