Arnulf I, Count of Flanders

Arnulf I, also known as ‘the Great,’ was born between 893 and 899, the son of Baldwin II of Flanders and Ælfthryth of Wessex. His lineage traced back to the Anglo-Saxon kings of England through his mother and to Charlemagne through his father. After his father’s death in 918, Arnulf became Count of Flanders, and his brother Adeloft assumed the County of Boulogne. Upon Adeloft’s death in 933, Arnulf claimed Boulogne and later transferred it to his nephew, Arnulf II. He expanded Flemish territory significantly and made Bruges the administrative center, bolstering its position as a trading hub.

Arnulf’s tenure saw the reduction of the Viking threat and the reform of Flemish governance. However, his expansionist policies led to conflicts, notably with the Normans, culminating in the 942 murder of Duke William Longsword. Arnulf’s death occurred on 27 March 964, under suspicious circumstances, and he was laid to rest in Saint-Peter’s Abbey, Ghent.