Arnulf II, Count of Flanders
Arnulf II the Younger (lat: Arnulfus iunior; * 961, † March 30 987 ) was a Count of Flanders from the House Flanders. He was the only son of Count Baldwin III. and Mathilde Billung, a daughter of Duke Hermann Billung of Saxony.
Life
Arnulf's father already served his grandfather, Count Arnulf I the Great, as co-regent, but died before this year 962 Thus Arnulf succeeded his grandfather of the same name 964 directly as Count of Flanders to. At this time, however, he was still a minor, so for him his cousin, Baldwin Baldzo († 973), took over the regency. This circumstance took advantage of the moment of Count Dietrich II of West Friesland, by temporarily occupied Ghent. At the same time King Lothar 965 took possession of Ponthieu region, which he passed on to the Dux Hugh Capet and thus was permanently lost to the Flemish Count House. Also, the first Count of Guines had established with the overall position on the border of Flanders was stopped for Normandy.
After 976 Arnulf had become of age he reached in the same year in the league with his stepfather, Earl Godfrey of Verdun, successfully Mons. Because he had found at this time on the side of Emperor Otto II against King Lothar, he was attacked 978 of the latter, resulting in a temporary loss of Artois the result that it was soon again be refunded by the king. In the spring of 981 Arnulf also lost the strong castle of Montreuil to Hugh Capet and had to refund the relics of the Abbey of Saint- Bertin at Saint -Valery and the abbeys of Saint- Riquier, who had once stolen his grandfather from there in exchange for them. 985 was his stepfather into captivity King Lothair, why Arnulf in his final years the party of Hugh Capet seized and supported his election as King shortly before his death.
Arnulf II was married to for about 968 Rozala - Susanna of Italy (c. 956, † 1003), a daughter of King Berengar II of Italy, with whom he had two children:
- Mathilde († July 24 995 )
- Baldwin IV Nice beard ( probably 980 *, † May 30, 1035 ), Count of Flanders.
Arnulf's son and successor was at his death still a minor, so his widow 988 second husband King Robert II married the Pious in order to win him as a protector of her son. But the king was four years later divorced from her.