The Counts of Flanders

[An Ard Ri]

The Countdoms of Flanders & Hainaut were united for over a 100 years and covered an extensive area of modern day western Belgium
Upon the death of Marguerite II a War of the Flemish Succession erupted between her successors.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Carte_des_comt%C3%A9s_de_Flandre_et_de_Hainaut_sous_la_comtesse_Jeanne_de_Constantinople_%281200-1244%29.png/500px-Carte_des_comt%C3%A9s_de_Flandre_et_de_Hainaut_sous_la_comtesse_Jeanne_de_Constantinople_%281200-1244%29.png

 

[eejm]

I would love to know more about Ælfthryth, consort to Baldwin II and daughter of Alfred the Great of Wessex. Her marriage to Baldwin is notable as Wessex was emerging from a very tumultuous period of Viking raids; marriages among Anglo-Saxon royal women were more often to men in neighboring kingdoms to achieve alliances against the Vikings. By the time Ælfthryth married Baldwin in the 890s, Alfred had quelled Danish invasions for the time being and stabilized his kingdom. It was Baldwin who sought an alliance with Alfred in hopes of controlling skirmishes in western Flanders.

Ælfthryth was well-educated for a Wessex princess and seemed to settle well into her role as Countess of Flanders. It is through her that Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror, is a descendent of Alfred the Great. Does anyone know more about Ælfthryth’s life in Flanders?

 

[Blog Real]

Baldwin II (c. 865 – 10 September 918) was the second margrave (or count) of Flanders, ruling from 879 to 918. He was nicknamed the Bald (Calvus) after his maternal grandfather, Emperor Charles the Bald.
Baldwin II was born around 865 to Margrave Baldwin I of Flanders and Judith, daughter of Emperor Charles the Bald. The early years of Baldwin II's rule were marked by a series of devastating Viking raids into Flanders. By 883, he was forced to move north to Pagus Flandransis, which became the territory most closely associated with the Counts of Flanders. Baldwin constructed a series of wooden fortifications at Saint-Omer, Bruges, Ghent, and Kortrijk. He then seized lands that were abandoned by royal and ecclesiastical officials. Many of these same citadels later formed castellanies which housed government, militia, and local courts.
Between 893 and 899, Baldwin II married Ælfthryth (or Elftrude or Elfrida), the daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex. The immediate goal of that Anglo-Flemish alliance was to help Baldwin control the lower Canche River valley. They had four children: Count Arnulf I of Flanders (c. 890–964), Count Adalulf of Boulogne (c. 890–933), Ealswid, and Ermentrud.
Baldwin died on 10 September 918, at Blandijnberg (near Ghent) and was succeeded by his eldest son, Arnulf I of Flanders. His younger son, Adalulf, became the first Count of Boulogne.
More information: Baldwin II, Margrave of Flanders - Wikipedia

 

[eejm]

Baldwin II (c. 865 – 10 September 918) was the second margrave (or count) of Flanders, ruling from 879 to 918. He was nicknamed the Bald (Calvus) after his maternal grandfather, Emperor Charles the Bald.
Baldwin II was born around 865 to Margrave Baldwin I of Flanders and Judith, daughter of Emperor Charles the Bald. The early years of Baldwin II's rule were marked by a series of devastating Viking raids into Flanders. By 883, he was forced to move north to Pagus Flandransis, which became the territory most closely associated with the Counts of Flanders. Baldwin constructed a series of wooden fortifications at Saint-Omer, Bruges, Ghent, and Kortrijk. He then seized lands that were abandoned by royal and ecclesiastical officials. Many of these same citadels later formed castellanies which housed government, militia, and local courts.
Between 893 and 899, Baldwin II married Ælfthryth (or Elftrude or Elfrida), the daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex. The immediate goal of that Anglo-Flemish alliance was to help Baldwin control the lower Canche River valley. They had four children: Count Arnulf I of Flanders (c. 890–964), Count Adalulf of Boulogne (c. 890–933), Ealswid, and Ermentrud.
Baldwin died on 10 September 918, at Blandijnberg (near Ghent) and was succeeded by his eldest son, Arnulf I of Flanders. His younger son, Adalulf, became the first Count of Boulogne.
More information: Baldwin II, Margrave of Flanders - Wikipedia

That’s all I found too. I wish more was known about her.

 

[An Ard Ri]

The Abbey of Saint-Bertin de Saint-Omer was used as a burial site and the abbey survived until 1792 when it suppressed and the monks evicted.
The buildings were gradually demolished over the next 30-40 years .
An excavation in 1844 discovered the crypt and coffins of abbots and that of a "Countess of Flanders" , possibly that of Adèle of France +1079.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/RuinsOfSaintBertin1850.jpg/960px-RuinsOfSaintBertin1850.jpg