2nd Count of Flanders Baldwin II of Flanders

2nd Count of Flanders Baldwin II of Flanders

Male Abt 865 - 918  (~ 53 years)

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  • Name Baldwin II of Flanders 
    Title 2nd Count of Flanders 
    Born Abt 865 
    Gender Male 
    Name Calvus (the Bald) 
    Reference Number 37346 
    Died 10 Sep 918  Flanders, Belgium Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I37346  Thompson-Milligan
    Last Modified 12 Apr 2018 

    Father Baldwin I of Flanders,   b. Abt 830,   d. 879  (Age ~ 49 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Judith of France,   b. Oct 844,   d. 870  (Age ~ 25 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F12402  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Ælfthryth,   d. 7 Jun 929 
    Children 
     1. Arnulf of Flanders,   b. 890  [natural]
    Last Modified 12 Apr 2018 
    Family ID F12401  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Baldwin II of Flanders
    Baldwin II of Flanders

  • Notes 
    • Baldwin II (c. 865 - September 10, 918), 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. Through his mother, Baldwin was a descendant of Charlemagne.

      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 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.

      In 900, he tried to curb the power of Archbishop Fulk of Rheims by assassinating him, but he was excommunicated by Pope Benedict IV.

      He died at Blandinberg (near Ghent) and was succeeded by his eldest son Arnulf I of Flanders. His younger son Adalulf was (the first) count of Boulogne.