Charles the Bald (823 -867)

 Charles II of France 

Charles the Bald (born 13 June 823 – died 6 October 877) was the King of West Francia (territory now primarily France) from 843, after the Treaty of Verdun, until 877. He also became the King of Italy and the Emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 875 to 877. Charles was the youngest son of Emperor Louis the Pious and his second wife, Judith of Bavaria. His older brothers, Lothair, Pepin and Louis the German, had already been given land by their father and little remained for Charles.

It is not known why the Bald was Charles' nick name. One suggestion is that it was a joke as he had lots of hair.  Another possibility is that it referred to him initially not having land.

In 842 Charles married Ermentrude, the daughter of Odo I, Count of Orléans. They had ten children including Judith of Flanders (843-870) and Louis (846-879). Ermentrude died in 869. In 870, Charles married Richilde of Provence and they had another five children. 

In 838 Charles inherited the kingdom of Aquitaine after the death of his brother, Pepin. When Emperor Louis the Pious died in 840, a war broke out among his sons. Charles teamed up with his brother Louis  against their older brother, Emperor Lothair, who they defeated at the Battle of Fontenoy-en-Puisaye on 25 June 841. The following year, Charles and Louis made their alliance stronger with the Oaths of Strasbourg. This war ended with the Treaty of Verdun in August 843.

The Treaty of Verdun split the Carolingian Empire into three parts. Charles the Bald received the western part, called the Kingdom of the West Franks. Louis received the eastern part, which became known as East Francia, now Germany. Lothair I kept the title of Emperor and the Kingdom of Italy. He also ruled the central lands, from Flanders, to the Rhineland and Burgundy known as Middle Francia. Until 855 when Lothair died, the brothers sometimes met to jointly govern their father's former territories.

In 858, Louis invaded Charles's kingdom and Charles fled to Burgundy where he was saved by the support of bishops and his mother's family. In 869, Charles tried to take over the lands of his nephew, Lothair II, who had died. Although Charles was crowned King of Lotharingia at Metz, he ended up dividing the kingdom with his brother, Louis, in 870 after the Treaty of Mersen.

Back in West Francia political uprisings occurred, particularly in Aquitaine and Brittany. The threat of Viking invasions was also present. They often attacked the northern sections of his country and also were known to sail along the Seine and Loire rivers. In Charles the Bald strengthened his army by adding cavalry. He also had fortified bridges built across the rivers to deter the progress of Vikings. In 885 and 886 two of the bridges in Paris helped save the city from Viking invasion.

The crown worn by Charles the Bald may have looked like this

In 875 Charles the Bald travelled to Italy where he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on 25 December. He held the position until his death in 877. His brother, Louis the German, also wanted to be emperor so when Charles was in Italy Louis invaded part of Charles' land. Charles returned to West Francia. When Louis died in 876 Charles then tried unsuccessfully to take over Louis' land. 

Summoned back to Italy by Pope John VII, Charles had difficulty in forming an army. He became ill and on the return trip home, he died on 6 October 867. Charles the Bald was initially buried at the Abbey of Natura in Burgundy. Later his remains were removed to the Abbey of Saint-Denis (now Basilica of Saint-Denis) in north Paris.

Charles the Bald had lived during a time of family conflict and much of his life was spent protecting his land or attempting to acquire family land that he believed that he was entitled to rule. He is also said to be remembered for his support of education and learning plus his support of the church.

Charles' first wife, Ermentrude, was also buried at the Abbey of Saint-Denis in 869.

The Flanders Connection part one

Exploring family trees can lead to unexpected discoveries providing greater knowledge and understanding of the past. Many years ago I discovered links in our family tree to William the Conqueror plus the Norman and Plantagenet kings of England as well as royalty in Scotland. Exploring William's ancestry leads to the arrival of Vikings in France many years earlier. But the family tree of his wife, Matilda of Flanders, also meanders through other important paths of our history.

Flanders

The County of Flanders is located in Belgium with one border on the North Sea. The county borders France in the south-west and it is across the sea from England. The area is part of the Low Countries.

Duchy of Normandy in 1066 - north east border with Flanders.

As Normandy and Flanders were neighbours it is not surprising that marriages had occurred for generations between the two locations.

Matilda of Flanders 

Matilda of Flanders was born 1031 in Bruges, Belgium. Her father was Count Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1079) and her mother was Adela of France (1009-1079). Adela was the daughter of Robert II, King of the Franks (later known as France) and Adelaide of Aquitaine making Matilda the granddaughter of the French king. She could therefore be said to have royal connections.

Matilda probably married William, Duke of Normandy in 1051. As William's parents were not married when he was born he was considered to be base-born. Marrying Matilda with her royal connections helped raise William's status. Initially Pope Leo IX would not recognise the marriage as Matilda and William were distantly related. However Pope Nicholas II finally gave approval to the marriage in 1059. 

Matilda and William had about ten children (records vary). The sons were Robert II, duke of Normandy, Richard Curthose, William Rufus and Henry I. There were at least five daughters.

Matilda assisted William ruling Normandy and later in England. She was appointed regent when he was away. Matilda was also crowned Queen of England. Matilda had had a good education and ensured that her children, daughters as well as sons, were educated.

When her sons argued about inheritance Matilda infuriated William when he realised that she had given Robert money to assist him with his claim. Generally, however, William and Matilda worked together.

Matilda died on 2 November 1083 and was buried at buried in Caen at l'Abbaye aux Dames. William died four years later.

A longer post about Matilda of Flanders can be found in this blog. 

Count Baldwin V of Flanders

Count Baldwin V of Flanders was the father of Matilda of Flanders. He was born in 1012 and died 1067. In 1028 he married Adela of France (1009 -1079). They had three children including Matilda of Flanders. Baldwin V supported the King of France in most of his endeavours. He only partially supported his son-in-law on William's planned invasion of England as Baldwin V had previously supported Edward the Confessor in some of his decisions.

During his reign, Baldwin V secured the union between Flanders and Hainaut through strategic marriage alliances. He served as co-regent for his nephew Philip I of France from 1060 to 1067.

Count Baldwin IV of Flanders

Count Baldwin IV of Flanders, Known as the Bearded, was born in 980 and died in 1035. In around 1012 he married Otgivia (or Ogiva or Otgive) Luxembourg who was born in 955 and died in 30 May 1035.

Baldwin IV became Count of Flanders in 987 after the death of his father, Arnulf II. His mother, Rozala of Italy, served as regent until he reached maturity. Baldwin IV focused on expanding his influence eastward, delegating the southern parts of his territory to his vassals. He acquired Zeeland as a fief from Holy Roman Emperor Henry II and later gained control of Valenciennes, parts of Cambresis, Saint-Omer, and the northern Ternois. He was succeeded by his son, Baldwin V Count of Flanders.

Arnulf II Count of Flanders

Arnulf II was Count of Flanders from 965 until his death in 987. He was born to Baldwin III of Flanders and Matilda of Saxony, and became count as an infant after his father's death in 962. His grandfather Arnulf I managed Flanders until his own death in 965, after which Baldwin Balso served as regent until 973. Upon reaching majority in 976, Arnulf II faced territorial losses in Flanders, including parts of Picardy and Ponthieu. Arnulf II died on 30 March 987 at the age of 26.

Arnulf II married Rozala of Italy, daughter of Berengar II of Italy in 976. They had two children Count Baldwin III and Mathilda. After the death of her husband, Rozala became regent until in 988 she married Robert II and changed her name to Susannah. They divorced in 996.

The Flanders Connection part two

 Count Baldwin III of Flanders

Baldwin III, known as the Young, was born around 940 as the son of Count Arnulf I of Flanders and Adele of Vermandois. In 958, he became co-ruler of the County of Flanders alongside his father. Baldwin married Mathilde Billung of Saxony shortly before 961, and they had a son named Arnulf. During his brief rule, he established the wool manufacturing industry in Ghent and set up markets in other towns across Flanders. Baldwin III died of smallpox on 1 January 962 after a campaign against the Normans. Following his death, his son Arnulf II succeeded him under the guardianship of King Lothair of France.

Mathilde Billung of Saxony (c942-1008) was a daughter of Duke Hermann Billung. Her first marriage was to Baldwin III, Count of Flanders, with whom she had a son. After Count Baldwin's death she married Godfrey, count of Verdun, with whom she had several sons.

Arnulf I of Flanders

Arnulf I, known as "the Great", was the first Count of Flanders. He was born between 893 and 899. Arnulf was the son of Baldwin II of Flanders and Ælfthryth of Wessex, linking him to both the Anglo-Saxon kings of England and Charlemagne. Upon his father's death in 918, Arnulf became Count of Flanders, while his brother Adeloft took the County of Boulogne.

In 933, after Adeloft's death, Arnulf assumed control of Boulogne but later transferred it to his nephew, Arnulf II. He expanded Flemish territory southward, taking regions such as Artois and Ponthieu, and made Bruges a central administrative hub. His conflicts with the Normans led to the murder of William Longsword in 942, and he later focused on reforming the Flemish government.

Arnulf I died on 27 March 964, reportedly murdered by Heluin in revenge for William Longsword's death, and was buried in Saint-Peter's Abbey in Ghent. He was succeeded by his grandson, Arnulf II of Flanders, after his own son Baldwin III predeceased him.

Adele, born c. 910–915 was a daughter of Herbert II of Vermandois and his wife, Adele, daughter of Robert I of France. She died in 960 in Bruges in Western Flanders. In 934 Adele married Count Arnulf I of Flanders and they had the five children including Baldwin III of Flanders.

Count Baldwin II of Flanders

Baldwin II, born around 865, was the second Margrave of Flanders ( a military title), ruling from 879 to 918. He was the son of Baldwin I of Flanders and Judith, daughter of Emperor Charles the Bald. His early rule was challenged by Viking raids, leading him to relocate to Pagus Flandransis, where he built fortifications in key locations such as Saint-Omer and Bruges.

In 888, Baldwin II could have pursued the West Frankish crown after Charles the Fat's deposition but instead supported Arnulf of East Francia, who declined the offer. Baldwin's relationship with King Odo soured over control of the Abbey of St. Bertin, leading to conflict. He expanded his territory southward, gaining control over Artois and the Abbey of St. Vaast.

Baldwin II died on September 10, 918, near Ghent. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Arnulf I of Flanders.

 Between 893 and 899 he married Ælfthryth, the daughter of King Alfred the Great.

Ælfthryth of Wessex was the youngest daughter of Alfred the Great, King of England, and his wife Ealhswith. Her siblings included King Edward the Elder and Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians. Ælfthryth received an education alongside her brother Edward, which was uncommon for princesses of her time. When she married Baldwin II she became the Countess consort of Flanders. Ælfthryth of Wessex died on 7 June 929. Her children included Arnulf I of Flanders and Adalulf, Count of Boulogne.

Judith of Flanders and Count Baldwin I of Flanders

Judith, the eldest daughter of Emperor Charles the Bald, King of West Francia, and his first wife Ermentrude of Orléans was probably born in c843. In 1856 she married her first husband, the elderly King Æthelwulf of Wessex (the father of Alfred the Great). This was a political marriage to strengthen the alliance of the two territories when defending their land from the Vikings. After Æthelwulf's death in 858, Judith was married to his son and successor, Æthelbald. The church did not approve of this union but the marriage continued until the death ofÆthelbald in 860.There were no children from these two marriages.

Judith then returned to her parents in France where she was sent to a convent until her father found her a new husband. Judith took matters into her own hands and, escaping from the convent, married a man named Baldwin. Little is known about this Baldwin before his marriage to Judith. Judith's brother, Louis, assisted her in this endeavour. Judith's father was furious and the pope excommunicated the couple. Judith and Baldwin escaped to Lotharingia and eventually Pope Nicholas II persuaded the King to agree to his daughter's marriage.

King Charles put Baldwin in charge of a military attack against the Vikings which was successful. The area won by Baldwin's soldiers became known as Flanders. Charles the Bald then created the title, Count of Flanders, for Baldwin and from that time he was known as Count Baldwin I of Flanders.

Judith and Baldwin probably had four children. Charles (b. 864), did not survive to adulthood but another son was Baldwin II, Count of Flanders (865–918) while a third son, Raoul (or Rodulf, 867–896), was the Count of Cambrai. A daughter Gunhilde, born about 870, married Guifre I Count of Barcelona.