Boudewijn Baldwin I, Count of Flanders

830 (age 49)

At the time Baldwin first appear in the records he was already a count, presumably in the area of Flanders, but this is not known. She fled north with Count Baldwin. Charles had given no permission for a marriage and tried to capture Baldwin, sending letters to Rorik of Dorestad and Bishop Hungar, forbidding them to shelter the fugitive. After Baldwin and Judith had evaded his attempts to capture them, Charles had his bishops excommunicate the couple. Judith and Baldwin responded by traveling to Rome to plead their case with Pope Nicholas I. Their plea was successful and Charles was forced to accept. The marriage took place on 13 December 862 in Auxerre. By 870, Baldwin had acquired the lay-abbacy of Saint Pieter in Ghent and is assumed to have also acquired the counties of Flanders and Waasland, or parts thereof by this time. Baldwin developed himself as a very faithful and stout supporter of Charles and played an important role in the continuing wars against the Vikings. He is named in 877 as one of those willing to support the emperor"s son, Louis the Stammerer. During his life, Baldwin expanded his territory into one of the major principalities of Western Francia. He died in 879 and was buried in the Abbey of Street-Bertin, near Saint-Omer. Son of Anacher Great Forrester of Denmark. Baldwin was succeeded by his and Judith"s son, Baldwin II (c 866 – 918). In 896, they attacked Vermandois and captured Arras, Saint-Quentin and Peronne, but later that year Raoul was captured by Count Herbert and killed. Baldwin also had a daughter, Guinidilda, who married Wilfred the Hairy.

Boudewijn Baldwin I, Count of Flanders

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politician

Background

Count Baldwin rose to prominence when he eloped with princess Judith, daughter of Charles the Bald, king of West Francia.

Career

At the time Baldwin first appear in the records he was already a count, presumably in the area of Flanders, but this is not known. She fled north with Count Baldwin. Charles had given no permission for a marriage and tried to capture Baldwin, sending letters to Rorik of Dorestad and Bishop Hungar, forbidding them to shelter the fugitive.

After Baldwin and Judith had evaded his attempts to capture them, Charles had his bishops excommunicate the couple.

Judith and Baldwin responded by traveling to Rome to plead their case with Pope Nicholas I. Their plea was successful and Charles was forced to accept. The marriage took place on 13 December 862 in Auxerre.

By 870, Baldwin had acquired the lay-abbacy of Saint Pieter in Ghent and is assumed to have also acquired the counties of Flanders and Waasland, or parts thereof by this time. Baldwin developed himself as a very faithful and stout supporter of Charles and played an important role in the continuing wars against the Vikings.

He is named in 877 as one of those willing to support the emperor"s son, Louis the Stammerer.

During his life, Baldwin expanded his territory into one of the major principalities of Western Francia. He died in 879 and was buried in the Abbey of Street-Bertin, near Saint-Omer. Son of Anacher Great Forrester of Denmark.

Baldwin was succeeded by his and Judith"s son, Baldwin II (c 866 – 918).

In 896, they attacked Vermandois and captured Arras, Saint-Quentin and Peronne, but later that year Raoul was captured by Count Herbert and killed. Baldwin also had a daughter, Guinidilda, who married Wilfred the Hairy.

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