Baldwin II | |
|---|---|
| Margrave of Flanders | |
 | |
| Born | c. 865 |
| Died | September 10, 918(918-09-10) (aged 52–53) |
| Noble family | House of Flanders |
| Spouse | Ælfthryth of Wessex |
| Issue |
|
| Father | Baldwin I of Flanders |
| Mother | Judith of Flanders |
Baldwin II (c. 865 – 10 September 918) was the secondmargrave (or count) of Flanders, ruling from 879 to 918. He was nicknamedthe Bald (Calvus) after his maternal grandfather, EmperorCharles the Bald.[1]
Baldwin II was born around 865 to MargraveBaldwin I of Flanders andJudith, daughter of EmperorCharles the Bald.[2] The early years of Baldwin II's rule were marked by a series of devastatingViking raids into Flanders.[3] By 883, he was forced to move north toPagus Flandransis, which became the territory most closely associated with the Counts of Flanders.[3] Baldwin constructed a series of wooden fortifications atSaint-Omer,Bruges,Ghent, andKortrijk. He then seized lands that were abandoned by royal and ecclesiastical officials.[4] Many of these samecitadels later formedcastellanies which housed government, militia, and local courts.[3]
In 888, the WesternFrankish king,Charles the Fat, was deposed, leaving several candidates vying to replace him.[5] As a grandson of Charles the Bald, who was king ofWest Francia, Baldwin could have competed for the crown.[4] Instead, Baldwin and others tried to convince theEast Frankish king,Arnulf, to take the West Frankish crown, but Arnulf declined.[5]
TheRobertineOdo, Count of Paris, was eventually made king.[6] Odo and Baldwin's relationship deteriorated when Odo failed to support Baldwin's attempts to gain control of theAbbey of St. Bertin. Odo attacked Baldwin at Bruges but was unable to prevail.[5] Baldwin continued his expansion to the south and gained control overArtois, including the importantAbbey of St. Vaast.
Between 893 and 899, Baldwin II marriedÆlfthryth (or Elftrude or Elfrida), the daughter of KingAlfred the Great of Wessex.[7] The immediate goal of that Anglo-Flemish alliance was to help Baldwin control the lowerCanche River valley.[8] They had four children: CountArnulf I of Flanders (c. 890–964), CountAdalulf of Boulogne (c. 890–933), Ealswid, and Ermentrud.[2]
When the Abbey came under thejurisdiction of ArchbishopFulk of Reims in 900, Baldwin had the archbishop assassinated and was excommunicated byPope Benedict IV.[8] When his attempts to expand further into the upperSomme River valley were opposed byHerbert I, Count of Vermandois, Baldwin had the count assassinated as well.[8] Baldwin died on 10 September 918,[9] atBlandijnberg (nearGhent) and was succeeded by his eldest son,Arnulf I of Flanders. His younger son,Adalulf, became the firstCount of Boulogne.
Baldwin II was married toÆlfthryth, daughter ofAlfred the Great,[2] and had children:
| Preceded by | Margrave of Flanders 879–918 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| People | |
