Individual Details
Count Arnulf I (the Great) of Flandre
(Abt 885 - 27 Mar 965)
Arnulf I, called 'the Great', was born about 885, the son of Baudouin II 'the Bald', count of Flanders and Elftrudis of Wessex, daughter of Alfred 'the Great', king of England. He was named after his distant ancestor, Saint Arnulf of Metz; this was intended to emphasise his family's descent from the Carolingian dynasty.
Arnulf succeeded as count of Flanders on his father's death in 918. He greatly expanded Flemish rule to the south, taking all or part of Artois, Ponthieu, Amiens, and Ostravent. He exploited the conflicts between Charles 'the Simple' and Robert I of France, and later those between Louis IV and his barons.
In the southern expansion Arnulf inevitably had conflicts with the Normans, who were trying to secure their northern frontier. This led to the murder in 943 of Guillaume I 'Longsword', duke of Normandy, at the hands of Arnulf's men.
The Viking threat was receding during the last years of Arnulf's life, and he turned his attentions to the reform of the Flemish government.
In 934 he married Adela de Vermandois, daughter of Heribert II, comte de Vermandois, and Adela/Liegarde/Hildebrante of Neustria, daughter of Robert I, king of France. Arnulf and Adela had four children, of whom only their eldest son Baudouin III would have progeny. Arnulf made Baudouin co-ruler in 958, but following Baudouin's early death in 962, Arnulf was succeeded by Baudouin's infant son Arnulf II.
Arnulf died on 28 March 965.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Arnulf succeeded as count of Flanders on his father's death in 918. He greatly expanded Flemish rule to the south, taking all or part of Artois, Ponthieu, Amiens, and Ostravent. He exploited the conflicts between Charles 'the Simple' and Robert I of France, and later those between Louis IV and his barons.
In the southern expansion Arnulf inevitably had conflicts with the Normans, who were trying to secure their northern frontier. This led to the murder in 943 of Guillaume I 'Longsword', duke of Normandy, at the hands of Arnulf's men.
The Viking threat was receding during the last years of Arnulf's life, and he turned his attentions to the reform of the Flemish government.
In 934 he married Adela de Vermandois, daughter of Heribert II, comte de Vermandois, and Adela/Liegarde/Hildebrante of Neustria, daughter of Robert I, king of France. Arnulf and Adela had four children, of whom only their eldest son Baudouin III would have progeny. Arnulf made Baudouin co-ruler in 958, but following Baudouin's early death in 962, Arnulf was succeeded by Baudouin's infant son Arnulf II.
Arnulf died on 28 March 965.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | Abt 885 | ||||
| Marriage | 934 | Adele de Vermandois | |||
| Death | 27 Mar 965 |
Families
| Spouse | Adele de Vermandois (910 - 960) |
| Child | Count Baudouin III of Flandre (940 - 962) |
| Father | Count Baudouin II of Flandre (863 - 918) |
| Mother | Alfthryth of Wessex ( - 929) |