Sixth Generation

11. Count Arnoul I of Flanders [120127] (Countess Ælfthryth of Flanders⁵, Ealhswith⁴, Queen Edburga of Mercia³, Princess Elfleda of Mercia², Ceolwulf of Mercia (King)¹) was born on 12 Dec 889 in Ghent Vlanderen Belgium, died on 27 Mar 1964 in Ghent Vlanderen Belgium at age 1074, and was buried in Church of Saint-Pierre de Gand Ghent Vlanderen Flanders.

General Notes: Wikipedia says of Arnulf I,
Arnulf was the son of margrave Baldwin II of Flanders and Ælfthryth of Wessex, daughter of Alfred the Great.[3] Through his mother he was a descendant of the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, and through his father, a descendant of Charlemagne.[4] Presumably Arnulf was named after Saint Arnulf of Metz, a progenitor of the Carolingian dynasty.[5]

At the death of their father in 918, Arnulf became Count of Flanders while his brother Adeloft or Adelolf succeeded to the County of Boulogne.[3] However, in 933 Adeloft died, and Arnulf took the countship of Boulogne for himself, but later conveyed it to his nephew, Arnulf II.[6] Arnulf titled himself count by the Grace of God.[7]

Arnulf I greatly expanded Flemish rule to the south, taking all or part of Artois, Ponthieu, Amiens, and Ostrevent. He exploited the conflicts between Charles the Simple and Robert I of France, and later those between Louis IV and his barons.

In his southern expansion Arnulf inevitably had conflict with the Normans, who were trying to secure their northern frontier. This led to the 942 murder of the Duke of Normandy, William Longsword, at the hands of Arnulf's men.[8] The Viking threat was receding during the later years of Arnulf's life, and he turned his attentions to the reform of the Flemish government. Count Arnulf died 27 March 964, allegedly murdered by Heluin in revenge for the murder of William Longsword.[9] He was buried in the Church of Saint-Pierre de Gand in Ghent

Arnoul married Adele of Vermandois [120128] in 934. Adele was born before 910 in Comté de Vermandois Royaume des Francs de l'Ouest, died on 10 Oct 960 in Bruges Vlanderen Belgium, and was buried in Ghent Vlanderen Belgium.

Children from this marriage were:

   15 F    i. Hildegard OF FLANDERS [120129] was born about 934 and died in 990 aged about 56.

Hildegard married Count Dirk II of Holland [120132].

   16 F    ii. Luitgard OF FLANDERS [120130] was born in 935 and died in 962 at age 27.

Luitgard married Count Wichman IV of Hamaland [120133].

   17 M    iii. Egbert OF FLANDERS [120134] was born about 938 and died in 953 aged about 15.

   18 F    iv. Elftrude OF FLANDERS [120131] .

Elftrude married Count Siegfried of Guines [120135].

   19 M    v. Count Baudouin III of Flanders [120123] was born about 940 in Vlanderen [Flanders] Belgium, died on 1 Jan 962 in Abbey of St. Bertin Saint-Omer Vlaanderen France aged about 22, and was buried in St Omer Vlanderen Belgium. The cause of his death was Smallpox.

General Notes: Wikipedia says of Bauduoin III,
Arnulf I made Baldwin III co-ruler of Flanders in 958. During his short rule, Baldwin was responsible for establishing the wool manufacturing industry at Ghent and markets at other towns in Flanders.[3] Baldwin III died of smallpox on 1 January 962, after a campaign against the Normans.[1] After Baldwin's death, Arnulf I arranged for King Lothair of France to become the guardian of Baldwin's son, Arnulf II, who succeeded Arnulf I.[4]

Baudouin married Countess Matilda BILLUNG of Flanders [120124], daughter of Duke Herman I BILLUNG of Saxony [120125] and Hildegard von WESTERBURG [120126]. Matilda was born about 938, died on 25 May 1008 aged about 70, and was buried in Ghent Vlanderen Belgium.

General Notes: Wikipedia says of Matilda,
Matilda was duchess of Saxony, countess of Saxony, princess of Saxony, and countess of Flanders. She was the daughter of Hermann Billung and Hildegard von Westerburg. She was born in Herzogtum Sachsen, Ostenfrankenreich, now part of modern Germany. Matlida was the sister of Swanhilde of Saxony and Bernard I, duke of Saxony; and half sister of Liudger von Sachsen, Graf von Lesum und Westfalen and Imma Von Billung, Abbess of Hereford.[1]

Matilda was the wife of Baldwin III, count of Flanders, with whom she had a son Arnulf II the Young, count of Flanders. After Baldwin's death, Matilda married Godefroi I the Captive, count of Ardennes, with whom she had eleven children: Adelaide d'Ardennes, Duchess of Lorraine; Comte van Verdun Godefroy Herzog von Niederlothringen, II; Gerberge de Verdun, comtesse; Hermann, comte de Verdun et d'Enham; Gothelo I "the Great", duke of Lorraine; Irmgard, comtesse de Verdun; Roger de Verdun, Governor of Ambriences Castle;[citation needed] Frédéric de Verdun; Regilla de Verdun; comte Adalberto Evêque de Vermandois, II and Ermentrude von Lothringen de Verdun.[1][citation needed][2]