Boudouin, Baldwin I, Baldwin Iron Arm, first Count of Flanders
He is thought to be the son of Odoacre, and the grandson of Engleran or Count Enguerrand, son of Leideric Forrester or Liderie of Flanders, France.
Baldwin married Judith of France, the daughter of Charles the Bald, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of the West Franks and his first wife, Ermentrude of Orleans. They had the following children:
* Charles, died at a young age
* Baudouin II married Aelfthryth
* Raoul, Count of Cambrai, murdered in 896
* Widnille, wife of Wilfrid I de Besalu
Count Baldwin became known through his marriage, but his origins are unknown beyond the legends that claim his family received his fiefdoms from Dagobert I.
Judith was forced by her father into a strategic, diplomatic marriage with Æthelwulf, the King of Wessex, that took place 01 Oct 856. Judith was about fourteen, Æthelwulf was about fifty. Judith's father insisted she be crowned queen in exchange for this alliance with Carolingina name, despite the King's consorts were never crowned. Æthelwulf's eldest surviving son, Æthelbald, was forming a rebellion, from fear he would be usurped by a child of Judith, when his father appeased him by giving him the Eastern territories. When Æthelwulf died in 858, Æthelbald took Judith for his wife and queen to enhance his name and position, but the marriage was condemned by Asser in his "Life of Alfred the Great";
"Contrary to the practice of all pagans, [Æthelbald] took over his father's marriage-bed and married Judith, daughter of Charles, king of the Franks, incurring great disgrace from all who heard of it." Æthelbald died in 860, Judith had remained childless through both marriages, sold all her Wessex properties and returned to France, only to be placed under guard in the monastery at Senlis by her father until her could arrange another suitable, advantageous marriage.
Judith met and married Baldwin, secretly at the monastery but with her brother. Louis's permission. Judith is thought to have been the instigator, not a victim, when she and Baldwin escaped and fled north, around Christmas of 861. Charles was furious, writing to his bishops as well as Rorik, the Viking and founder of the Russian dynasty, demanding they excommunicate the couple and refuse them shelter.
Judith and Baldwin took refuge with her cousin, Lothar II of Francia, and asked Pope Nicholas to argue their case with her father. Eventually Charles seceded, allowing Judith and Baldwin to return to France and marry formally at Auxerre on 13 December 863.
Baldwin became a staunch supporter of Charles, as well as his son, Louis the Stammerer, assisted in the continuing Viking wars, and expanded his territories to Western Francia.
Baldwin died in 879 and was buried in the Abbey of Saint-Bertin, near Saint-Omer, succeeded by his son Baldwin II.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
He is thought to be the son of Odoacre, and the grandson of Engleran or Count Enguerrand, son of Leideric Forrester or Liderie of Flanders, France.
Baldwin married Judith of France, the daughter of Charles the Bald, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of the West Franks and his first wife, Ermentrude of Orleans. They had the following children:
* Charles, died at a young age
* Baudouin II married Aelfthryth
* Raoul, Count of Cambrai, murdered in 896
* Widnille, wife of Wilfrid I de Besalu
Count Baldwin became known through his marriage, but his origins are unknown beyond the legends that claim his family received his fiefdoms from Dagobert I.
Judith was forced by her father into a strategic, diplomatic marriage with Æthelwulf, the King of Wessex, that took place 01 Oct 856. Judith was about fourteen, Æthelwulf was about fifty. Judith's father insisted she be crowned queen in exchange for this alliance with Carolingina name, despite the King's consorts were never crowned. Æthelwulf's eldest surviving son, Æthelbald, was forming a rebellion, from fear he would be usurped by a child of Judith, when his father appeased him by giving him the Eastern territories. When Æthelwulf died in 858, Æthelbald took Judith for his wife and queen to enhance his name and position, but the marriage was condemned by Asser in his "Life of Alfred the Great";
"Contrary to the practice of all pagans, [Æthelbald] took over his father's marriage-bed and married Judith, daughter of Charles, king of the Franks, incurring great disgrace from all who heard of it." Æthelbald died in 860, Judith had remained childless through both marriages, sold all her Wessex properties and returned to France, only to be placed under guard in the monastery at Senlis by her father until her could arrange another suitable, advantageous marriage.
Judith met and married Baldwin, secretly at the monastery but with her brother. Louis's permission. Judith is thought to have been the instigator, not a victim, when she and Baldwin escaped and fled north, around Christmas of 861. Charles was furious, writing to his bishops as well as Rorik, the Viking and founder of the Russian dynasty, demanding they excommunicate the couple and refuse them shelter.
Judith and Baldwin took refuge with her cousin, Lothar II of Francia, and asked Pope Nicholas to argue their case with her father. Eventually Charles seceded, allowing Judith and Baldwin to return to France and marry formally at Auxerre on 13 December 863.
Baldwin became a staunch supporter of Charles, as well as his son, Louis the Stammerer, assisted in the continuing Viking wars, and expanded his territories to Western Francia.
Baldwin died in 879 and was buried in the Abbey of Saint-Bertin, near Saint-Omer, succeeded by his son Baldwin II.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
Boudouin, Baldwin I, Baldwin Iron Arm, first Count of Flanders
He is thought to be the son of Odoacre, and the grandson of Engleran or Count Enguerrand, son of Leideric Forrester or Liderie of Flanders, France.
Baldwin married Judith of France, the daughter of Charles the Bald, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of the West Franks and his first wife, Ermentrude of Orleans. They had the following children:
* Charles, died at a young age
* Baudouin II married Aelfthryth
* Raoul, Count of Cambrai, murdered in 896
* Widnille, wife of Wilfrid I de Besalu
Count Baldwin became known through his marriage, but his origins are unknown beyond the legends that claim his family received his fiefdoms from Dagobert I.
Judith was forced by her father into a strategic, diplomatic marriage with Æthelwulf, the King of Wessex, that took place 01 Oct 856. Judith was about fourteen, Æthelwulf was about fifty. Judith's father insisted she be crowned queen in exchange for this alliance with Carolingina name, despite the King's consorts were never crowned. Æthelwulf's eldest surviving son, Æthelbald, was forming a rebellion, from fear he would be usurped by a child of Judith, when his father appeased him by giving him the Eastern territories. When Æthelwulf died in 858, Æthelbald took Judith for his wife and queen to enhance his name and position, but the marriage was condemned by Asser in his "Life of Alfred the Great";
"Contrary to the practice of all pagans, [Æthelbald] took over his father's marriage-bed and married Judith, daughter of Charles, king of the Franks, incurring great disgrace from all who heard of it." Æthelbald died in 860, Judith had remained childless through both marriages, sold all her Wessex properties and returned to France, only to be placed under guard in the monastery at Senlis by her father until her could arrange another suitable, advantageous marriage.
Judith met and married Baldwin, secretly at the monastery but with her brother. Louis's permission. Judith is thought to have been the instigator, not a victim, when she and Baldwin escaped and fled north, around Christmas of 861. Charles was furious, writing to his bishops as well as Rorik, the Viking and founder of the Russian dynasty, demanding they excommunicate the couple and refuse them shelter.
Judith and Baldwin took refuge with her cousin, Lothar II of Francia, and asked Pope Nicholas to argue their case with her father. Eventually Charles seceded, allowing Judith and Baldwin to return to France and marry formally at Auxerre on 13 December 863.
Baldwin became a staunch supporter of Charles, as well as his son, Louis the Stammerer, assisted in the continuing Viking wars, and expanded his territories to Western Francia.
Baldwin died in 879 and was buried in the Abbey of Saint-Bertin, near Saint-Omer, succeeded by his son Baldwin II.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
He is thought to be the son of Odoacre, and the grandson of Engleran or Count Enguerrand, son of Leideric Forrester or Liderie of Flanders, France.
Baldwin married Judith of France, the daughter of Charles the Bald, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of the West Franks and his first wife, Ermentrude of Orleans. They had the following children:
* Charles, died at a young age
* Baudouin II married Aelfthryth
* Raoul, Count of Cambrai, murdered in 896
* Widnille, wife of Wilfrid I de Besalu
Count Baldwin became known through his marriage, but his origins are unknown beyond the legends that claim his family received his fiefdoms from Dagobert I.
Judith was forced by her father into a strategic, diplomatic marriage with Æthelwulf, the King of Wessex, that took place 01 Oct 856. Judith was about fourteen, Æthelwulf was about fifty. Judith's father insisted she be crowned queen in exchange for this alliance with Carolingina name, despite the King's consorts were never crowned. Æthelwulf's eldest surviving son, Æthelbald, was forming a rebellion, from fear he would be usurped by a child of Judith, when his father appeased him by giving him the Eastern territories. When Æthelwulf died in 858, Æthelbald took Judith for his wife and queen to enhance his name and position, but the marriage was condemned by Asser in his "Life of Alfred the Great";
"Contrary to the practice of all pagans, [Æthelbald] took over his father's marriage-bed and married Judith, daughter of Charles, king of the Franks, incurring great disgrace from all who heard of it." Æthelbald died in 860, Judith had remained childless through both marriages, sold all her Wessex properties and returned to France, only to be placed under guard in the monastery at Senlis by her father until her could arrange another suitable, advantageous marriage.
Judith met and married Baldwin, secretly at the monastery but with her brother. Louis's permission. Judith is thought to have been the instigator, not a victim, when she and Baldwin escaped and fled north, around Christmas of 861. Charles was furious, writing to his bishops as well as Rorik, the Viking and founder of the Russian dynasty, demanding they excommunicate the couple and refuse them shelter.
Judith and Baldwin took refuge with her cousin, Lothar II of Francia, and asked Pope Nicholas to argue their case with her father. Eventually Charles seceded, allowing Judith and Baldwin to return to France and marry formally at Auxerre on 13 December 863.
Baldwin became a staunch supporter of Charles, as well as his son, Louis the Stammerer, assisted in the continuing Viking wars, and expanded his territories to Western Francia.
Baldwin died in 879 and was buried in the Abbey of Saint-Bertin, near Saint-Omer, succeeded by his son Baldwin II.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
Family Members
Children
