Arnulf, also known as Arnoud or Arnold, succeeded his father in 988 as Count of

Frisia Frisia () is a Cross-border region, cross-border Cultural area, cultural region in Northwestern Europe. Stretching along the Wadden Sea, it encompasses the north of the Netherlands and parts of northwestern Germany. Wider definitions of "Frisia" ...

, which by around AD 1100 would come to be referred to as the county of Holland. He was born in 951 in

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

and because of this he is also known as Arnulf of Ghent. Arnulf was the son of

Dirk II, Count of Holland Dirk II or Theoderic II (920/930 – 6 May 988) was a count in West Frisia, and ancestor of the counts of Holland. He was the son and heir of Dirk I and his wife Geva (or Gerberge). Career In 983 Emperor Otto III confirmed Dirk's rights wit ...

and Hildegard of Flanders (daughter of count Arnulf I). He was named after his maternal grandfather.

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 Egmond Abbey or St. Adalbert's Abbey (, ''Sint-Adelbertabdij'') is a Rule of St. Benedict, Benedictine monastery of the Congregation of the Annunciation, situated in Egmond-Binnen, in the municipality of Bergen, North Holland, Bergen, in the Neth ...

, amongst others

Hillegersberg Hillegersberg () is a neighbourhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands. Primarily a green residential area with lakes, canals and parks, it was incorporated into the city of Rotterdam in 1941. Settlement around its Hillegonda church was first established ...

(which was previously called ''Bergan'', but renamed after Arnulf's mother) and

Overschie Overschie () is a neighborhood of Rotterdam, Netherlands, formerly a separate village with its own municipality. The village of Overschie was located on the intersection of four rivers called "Schie": the Delftsche Schie, Schiedamsche Schie, Delfs ...

, 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 deep into 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.

Family

In May 980 Arnulf married Lutgard of Luxemburg, a daughter of Siegfried, Count of Luxemburg. 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 Baldwin II of Boulogne ( † ) was a son of Arnulf III, Count of Boulogne, whom he succeeded as count of Boulogne. Life Baldwin II was the son of Arnulf III, Count of Boulogne and succeeded his father as count circa 990. Both Arnulf III and hi ...

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.

References/Bibliography

* Frisia Coast Trail
The Abbey of Egmond and the Rise of the Gerulfings
*Cordfunke, ''Graven en Gravinnen van het Hollandse Huis'' (1986). {{Authority control Counts of Holland Counts of Frisia 10th-century counts in Europe 993 deaths Year of birth unknown Burials at Egmond Abbey