Baldwin II the Bald (de Kale)

Male 865 - 918  (53 years)


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  • Name Baldwin II the Bald (de Kale) 
    Birth 865 
    Gender Male 
    Death 918 
    Person ID I2500  Database
    Last Modified 27 Apr 2018 

    Father Boudewijn I of Flanders,   b. 840   d. 879 (Age 39 years) 
    Mother Judith of Francië,   b. 844   d. 870 (Age 26 years) 
    Marriage 13 Dec 863  Auxerre, Bourgogne, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1528  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Spouse / Partner Aelfthryth of Wessex,   b. 872   d. 929 (Age 57 years) 
    Children 
       1. Male Arnulf of Flanders,   b. 889   d. 965 (Age 76 years)
    Family ID F1046  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 Dec 2015 

  • Notes 
    • Baldwin II or Boudewijn de Kale (865 – September 10, 918)
      Baldwin II, nicknamed Calvus (the Bald) was the second count of Flanders and ruled from 879-918.
      He was the son of Baldwin I of Flanders and Judith, a daughter of Charles the Bald (Karel de Kale) and as such a descendant of Charlemagne.
      In 884 Baldwin married Aelfthryth (Ælfthryth, Elftrude, Elfrida), a daughter of King Alfred the Great of England. The immediate goal of this Anglo-Flemish alliance was to help Baldwin control the lower Canche River valley (at the English Channel).

      The early years of Baldwin's rule were marked by a series of devastating Viking raids into Flanders where little north of the Somme was left untouched. By 883 he was forced northward to the flat marshes of Flanders. Baldwin constructed a series of wooden fortifications at Saint-Omer, Bruges, Ghent, and Courtrai and seized those lands abandoned byroyal and ecclesiastical officials. Many of these same citadels laterformed castellanies housing government, militia and local courts.

      He died 10 September 918 at Blandinberg (near Ghent) and was succeeded by his eldest son Arnulf I of Flanders. His younger son Adalulf was(the first) count of Boulogne.