 |
Wikipedia | ||||||||
| |||||||||
- Margrave of Flanders
- 879-918: Count of Flanders
- 892-918: hereditary abbot of St. Bertin
- AKA: Baldwin "the Bald" (Calvus)
- (DT) Boudewijn II, Graaf van Vlaanderen[1]
- (FR) Baudouin II, Comte de Flandre[2]
- (EN) Bealdwine II, Eorl of Flandrum[3]
Baldwin II the Bald of Flanders, Count of Flanders, was born circa 865 to Baldwin I of Flanders (c835-879) and Judith (844-870) and died 10 September 918 of unspecified causes. He married Ælfthryth of Wessex (c872-929) .
Baldwin II, nicknamed Calvus (the Bald), was the second Count of Flanders. He was also hereditary abbot of St. Bertin from 892 till his death. He was the son of Baldwin I of Flanders and Judith, a daughter of Charles the Bald.
The early years of Baldwin's rule were marked by a series of devastating Viking raids. Little north of the Somme was untouched. Baldwin recovered, building new fortresses and improving city walls, and taking over abandoned property, so that in the end he held far more territory, and held it more strongly, than had his father. He also took advantage of the conflicts between Charles the Simple and Odo, Count of Paris, to take over the Ternois and the Boulonnias.
In 900, he tried to curb the power of Archbishop Fulk of Rheims by assassinating him, but he was excommunicated by Pope Benedict IV.
Baldwin 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.
He died at Blandinberg and was succeeded by his eldest son Arnulf I of Flanders.
Family Life
Marriage to English Princess
In 884 Baldwin married Ælfthryth (Ælfthryth, Elftrude, Elfrida), a daughter of King Alfred the Great of England. The marriage was motivated by the common Flemish-English opposition to the Vikings, and was the start of an alliance that was a mainstay of Flemish policy for centuries to come.[4]
- Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965) - eldest son, successor as Count of Flanders.
- Adalulf of Flanders (c890-933) was (the first) Count of Boulogne.
- Ealswid of Flanders (c865-?) - daughter
- Ermentrud of Flanders (c869-896) - daughter
Other Relationships
- His illegitimate son Albert was bishop of Paris.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Arnulf I of Flanders (c890-965) | 890 | 28 March 965 | Adele de Vermandois (910-960) |
| Adalulf of Flanders (c890-933) | 890 | 13 November 933 | |
| Ealswid of Flanders (c865-?) | |||
| Ermentrud of Flanders (c869-896) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Albert of Flanders (?-977) | 977 | ||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Charles of Flanders (aft863-?) | 863 | ||
| Baldwin II of Flanders (c865-918) | 865 | 10 September 918 | Ælfthryth of Wessex (c872-929) |
| Gunhilda of Flanders (c865-?) | 865 | Wilfred I of Urgel (c840-897) | |
| Rodulf of Flanders (c869-896) | 869 | 28 June 896 | |
See Also
Bibliography
- Oksanen, Eljas (2012). Flanders and the Anglo-Norman World, 1066-1216. Cambridge University Press.
- Nicholas, David M (2013). Medieval Flanders. Routledge.
- Folcwine. Gesta Abbatum S. Bertini Sithiensium.
- Glay, Edward Le (1886). Histoire des comtes de Flandre et des Flamands au moyen âge. Desclée. https://books.google.com/books?id=74ru0NDqFMcC.
External Links
- wikipedia:en:Baldwin II, Margrave of Flanders
- Baldwinus II 'de Kale' Graaf van Vlaanderen at thePeerage
- Baldwin II "the Bald", count of Flanders - Geni.com
- Arnulf I, Count of Flanders at Find A Grave
- Counts of Flanders & Hainaut - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
Ancestry Trees
- Alfred the Great Family Ancestry
- Charlemagne Family Ancestry
- Count of Flanders
Contemporary References
Baldwin II, Margrave of Flanders, was a prominent figure in European history during the 9th century. Here are some contemporary references that provide insight into his life:
- The Annals of St. Bertin: This is a chronicle of events from the 9th century, written by monks at the Abbey of St. Bertin in France. The annals provide a detailed account of Baldwin II's reign and his relationship with other rulers of the time.
- The Chronicle of Nantes: This chronicle was written in the 9th century and covers the history of the city of Nantes in France. It includes information about Baldwin II's activities in the region.
- The Life of St. Amand: St. Amand was a Christian missionary who lived during Baldwin II's reign. His life story, written by a contemporary author, provides some insight into the religious climate of the time and the role that Baldwin II played in supporting the spread of Christianity.
- The Vita Eligii: This is a hagiography, or saint's biography, written in the 7th century about Saint Eligius, who lived in the area that later became Flanders. While it is not a contemporary reference to Baldwin II specifically, it provides valuable context about the region and its history.
- The Royal Frankish Annals: This is a set of annals that cover the history of the Franks from the 8th to the 9th century. It includes information about Baldwin II's interactions with the Frankish rulers of the time.
Original Citations
Annals of St Bertin
Here is an original citation from the "Annals of St. Bertin," a chronicle from the 9th century that provides information about Baldwin II, Source: "The Annals of St. Bertin." (Source: "Annales Bertiniani." Edited by Ferdinand Lot. Les Belles Lettres, 1963.) Translated from the original Latin by Janet L. Nelson. Manchester University Press, 1991.
"Anno Dominicae incarnationis DCCCLXXIX. Balduinus, Balduini filius, patre suo in Flandria defuncto, paternum onus suscepit. Hic fuit vir magnae prudentiae et virtutis, in gubernandis subditis juste et sapienter versatus. Ecclesias et monasteria multa aedificavit, et fuit munificentissimus largitor ecclesiae. Amicitiam tenuit regum Francorum et Saxonum et omnium qui eum noverant honorabant."
"In the year of the Lord's incarnation 879, Baldwin, son of the late Baldwin, succeeded his father as count in Flanders. He was a man of great wisdom and courage, and he ruled his people with justice and prudence. He built many churches and monasteries and was a generous patron of the Church. He also maintained friendly relations with the kings of the Franks and the Saxons and was respected by all who knew him."
Royal Succession
| Preceded by Baldwin I |
Margrave of Flanders 879–918 |
Succeeded by Arnulf I |
References
- ^ Old Dutch spelling
- ^ Old French spelling
- ^ Old English Spelling
- ^ Nicholas 2013, p. 440.
Footnotes (including sources)
AMK152, Rtol, Phlox, Bergsmit, Thurstan, MainTour, Robin Patterson