Baldwin III of Flanders (940-962)

Main

tree

descendants

ahnentafel

Baldwin III of Flanders
Birth:	940
Death:	1 January 962
Father:	Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965)
Mother:	Adele de Vermandois (910-960)
Titles:	Count of Flanders
Spouse / partner:	Mathilde Billung (c940-1008)
Sex:
Edit Facts

	Wikipedia
Articles English: Baldwin III, Count of Flanders Deutsch: Balduin III. (Flandern) Francais: Baudouin III de Flandre Nederlands: Boudewijn III van Vlaanderen

• 958-962: Count of Flanders
• AKA: Arnulf the Younger
• (DT) Boudewijn III, Graaf van Vlaanderen
• (FR) Baudouin III, Comte de Flandre
• (EN) Bealdwine III, Eorl of Flandrum

Baldwin III of Flanders, Count of Flanders, was born 940 to Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965) and Adele de Vermandois (910-960) and died 1 January 962 of unspecified causes. He married Mathilde Billung (c940-1008) .

Biography

Baldwin III, Count of Flanders, was a prominent figure in medieval Europe who ruled as the Count of Flanders from 958 until his death in 962. He was a member of the House of Flanders, one of the most powerful noble families of the time, and he played a significant role in the political and military affairs of his era.

Baldwin III was born in 940, the son of Count Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965) and his second wife, Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965). He was raised in the court of his father and received a thorough education in the arts of war and diplomacy.

In 958, Baldwin III succeeded his father as Count of Flanders. He immediately set about consolidating his power and expanding his territories. He was a skilled military commander and led his armies on several successful campaigns against neighboring counties.

In addition to his military prowess, Baldwin III was also a patron of the arts and a devout Christian. He founded several churches and monasteries in Flanders, including the Abbey of St. Bertin and the Abbey of St. Vaast.

Arnulf II of Flanders likely spoke Old Dutch or Old Flemish as his native language. During his time, the region of Flanders (located in what is now modern-day Belgium and parts of France and the Netherlands) was predominantly Dutch-speaking, with a distinct local dialect. French was also widely spoken in the region due to its political and cultural ties with France. However, it is likely that Baldwin and his contemporaries would have primarily spoken Dutch/Flemish in their daily lives.

Overall, Baldwin III was an important figure in medieval Europe, and his reign as Count of Flanders was marked by military successes, religious piety, and cultural achievements. His legacy continued through his sons and the House of Flanders, which would go on to play a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of Europe for centuries to come.

Family Life

Some information in this article or section has not been verified and may not be reliable.
Please check for any inaccuracies, and modify and cite sources as needed.

Baldwin III was married to Matilda Billung of Saxony, the daughter of Duke Hermann Billung of Saxony. Their marriage was politically advantageous, as it helped to strengthen ties between Flanders and Saxony.

Baldwin III had two sons, Arnulf II and Adalolf, who would go on to become prominent figures in their own right. Arnulf II succeeded Baldwin III as Count of Flanders upon his death in 962. Both Arnulf II and Adalolf were also involved in the broader political and cultural developments of medieval Europe. They maintained close ties with the Holy Roman Empire and the papacy, and played a role in the development of the feudal system that would shape European society for centuries to come.

1. Arnulf II of Flanders (c960-988) - the elder son, succeeded his father as Count of Flanders upon his death in 962. He continued his father's military policies and expanded his territories, conquering the County of Hainaut and strengthening his ties with other powerful nobles in the region. Arnulf II was also a patron of the arts and helped to foster the cultural and intellectual growth of Flanders during his reign.
2. Adalolf of Flanders (c962-) - the younger son, did not inherit the title of Count of Flanders, but he did play an important role in the political and military affairs of the region. He served as a military commander and diplomat under his brother, and was instrumental in negotiating peace treaties and alliances with neighboring counties. Adalolf also founded several churches and monasteries in Flanders, including the Abbey of St. Peter in Ghent.

Children

Offspring of Baldwin III of Flanders and Mathilde Billung (c940-1008)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Arnulf II of Flanders (c960-988)	960	30 March 988	Rozela di Ivrea (955-c1003)
Adalolf of Flanders (c962-)

Siblings

Offspring of Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965) and Adele de Vermandois (910-960)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Elftrude of Flanders (935-?)	935	970	Siegfried I de Guines (c940-aft965)
Hildegard of Flanders (935-990)	935	10 April 990	Dirk II van Holland (930-988)
Egbert of Flanders (937-953)	937	953
Baldwin III of Flanders (940-962)	940	1 January 962	Mathilde Billung (c940-1008)
Luitgard of Flanders (941-964)	941	29 September 964	Wichman IV van Hamaland (c935-974)

See Also

Bibliography

• Oksanen, Eljas (2012). Flanders and the Anglo-Norman World, 1066-1216. Cambridge University Press. 
• Nicholas, David (1992). Medieval Flanders. Longman. 

External Links

• wikipedia:en:Baldwin III, Count of Flanders
• Baldwin III, Count of Flanders at thePeerage
• Baldwin III, Count of Flanders - Geni.com
• Baldwin III, Count of Flanders at Find A Grave
• Counts of Flanders & Hainaut - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

Ancestry Trees

• Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
• Count of Flanders

Contemporary Resources

The best contemporary sources about the life of Baldwin III, Count of Flanders, include:

1. The Annales Fuldenses: This is a contemporary chronicle written by monks of the Abbey of Fulda in Germany. The annals cover the period from the 8th century to the 10th century and provide valuable information about the political and military events of the time. The annals mention Baldwin III and his father, Arnulf I, and provide some details about their reigns.
2. The Chronicle of Sigebert of Gembloux: Sigebert was a monk and chronicler who lived in the late 11th century. His chronicle covers the period from the creation of the world to the year 1110, and includes a section on the history of Flanders. The section on Flanders provides some valuable information about Baldwin III and his reign.
3. The Chronicle of Alberic of Trois-Fontaines: Alberic was a Cistercian monk who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. His chronicle covers the period from the creation of the world to the year 1241 and provides valuable information about the political and military events of the time. The chronicle mentions Baldwin III and provides some details about his reign and accomplishments.
4. The Deeds of the Bishops of Cambrai: This is a collection of biographies of the bishops of Cambrai written by a group of anonymous authors in the 10th and 11th centuries. The biographies provide some information about the political and religious history of Flanders and mention Baldwin III and his father, Arnulf I.
5. The Vita Arnulfi Episcopi Suessionensis: This is a hagiographical work written in the 10th century by an anonymous author. The work provides a biography of Arnulf II, Baldwin III's son, but also includes some information about Baldwin III and his reign as Count of Flanders.

Royal Succession Charts

Preceded by Arnulf I

Count of Flanders 958–962 with Arnulf I

Succeeded by Arnulf II