Arnulf, Count of Holland
Encyclopedia
Arnulf, also known as Aernout or Arnold succeeded his father in 988 as Count in Frisia. He was born in 951 in Ghent
and because of this he is also known as Arnulf of Ghent. Arnulf was the son of Dirk II, Count of Holland
and Hildegard, thought to be a daughter of Arnulf of Flanders
.
(which was previously called Bergan, but renamed after Arnulf's mother) and Overschie
, which may have been rewards for the land-clearing activities of the monks of Egmond.
Arnulf was the first count to come into conflict with the West-Frisians and in 993 he invaded their territory, but on 18 September of that year he was defeated and killed in a battle near Winkel in West-Friesland. His son Dirk was still a boy at this time, but Arnulf's widow Luitgard managed to retain the county for her son with support from first Emperor Otto III and later her brother-in-law, Emperor Henry II
.
. The couple had (at least) two sons; the future Count Dirk III
and Siegfried (also known as Sicco). Arnulf, his wife and his sons were all buried at Egmond.
He also had a daughter, Adelina of Holland
, who was married to Baldwin II, Count of Boulogne
and Enguerrand I, Count of Ponthieu.
On 20 September 993 Liutgard donated her properties at Rugge to Saint Peter's abbey of Ghent for the soul of her husband. In June 1005 she made peace with the West-Frisians through mediation by Emperor Henry.
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
and because of this he is also known as Arnulf of Ghent. Arnulf was the son of Dirk II, Count of Holland
Dirk II, Count of Holland
Dirk II was Count of Frisia and Holland. He was the son of Count Dirk I and Geva .-Career:...
and Hildegard, thought to be a daughter of Arnulf of Flanders
Arnulf I, Count of Flanders
Arnulf of Flanders , called the Great, was the third Count of Flanders, who ruled the County of Flanders, an area that is now northwestern Belgium and southwestern Holland....
.
Career
Arnulf is first mentioned (together with his parents) in 970. Like his father, his name appears in numerous Flemish documents at the time. In 983 Arnulf accompanied Emperor Otto II and future Emperor Otto III on their journey to Verona and Rome. As count he managed to expand his territories southwards. Arnulf donated several properties to Egmond Abbey, amongst others HillegersbergHillegersberg
Hillegersberg is a neighborhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was founded as a village in the Middle Ages...
(which was previously called Bergan, but renamed after Arnulf's mother) and Overschie
Overschie
Overschie is a former village in the Dutch province of South Holland, and now a neighbourhood of Rotterdam.The village of Overschie was located on the intersection of four rivers called "Schie": the Delftsche Schie, Schiedamsche Schie, Delfshavensche Schie, and Rotterdamsche Schie. It was a...
, which may have been rewards for the land-clearing activities of the monks of Egmond.
Arnulf was the first count to come into conflict with the West-Frisians and in 993 he invaded their territory, but on 18 September of that year he was defeated and killed in a battle near Winkel in West-Friesland. His son Dirk was still a boy at this time, but Arnulf's widow Luitgard managed to retain the county for her son with support from first Emperor Otto III and later her brother-in-law, Emperor Henry II
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry II , also referred to as Saint Henry, Obl.S.B., was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later. He was crowned King of the Germans in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004...
.
Family
In May 980 Arnulf married Lutgard of Luxemburg, a daughter of Siegfried, Count of LuxemburgSiegfried of Luxembourg
Siegfried is considered the first count of Luxembourg. He was actually count in the Moselgau and the Ardennes. He was also the advocate of the abbeys of Saint-Maximin de Trêves and Saint-Willibrod d'Echternach. He is speculated to be the son of Wigeric of Lotharingia, Count Palatine and Cunigunda...
. The couple had (at least) two sons; the future Count Dirk III
Dirk III, Count of Holland
Dirk III was Count of Holland from 993 to May 27, 1039, until 1005 under regency of his mother. It is thought that Dirk III went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 1030, hence his nickname of Hierosolymita....
and Siegfried (also known as Sicco). Arnulf, his wife and his sons were all buried at Egmond.
He also had a daughter, Adelina of Holland
Adelina of Holland
Aleina Adelina of Holland was a daughter of Arnulf, Count of Holland and Lutgardis of Luxemburg. She first married to Baldwin II, Count of Boulogne and then to Enguerrand I of Ponthieu....
, who was married to Baldwin II, Count of Boulogne
Baldwin II, Count of Boulogne
Baldwin II of Boulogne was a son of Arnulf III, Count of Boulogne, who he succeeded as count of Boulogne.He married Adelina of Holland and was the father of Eustace I of Boulogne, who succeeded him....
and Enguerrand I, Count of Ponthieu.
On 20 September 993 Liutgard donated her properties at Rugge to Saint Peter's abbey of Ghent for the soul of her husband. In June 1005 she made peace with the West-Frisians through mediation by Emperor Henry.