On Christmas Day 861 a man called Baldwin eloped with Judith, daughter of King Charles the Bald of West-Francia. A daring and very bold move, but one with some ramifications for the place that is now called Belgium: a #thread
Charles the Bald was furious,ordered everyone not to shelter his daughter/Baldwin and asked bishops to excommunicate them. The pair therefore moved to Rome where they pleaded with Pope Nicholas I who urged Charles to reconcile with his daughter and - yet unofficial - son-in-law. 
Charles finally accepted the situation and accepted an official marriage in 862. He also gave Baldwin the 'pagus Flandrensis' and in 862 Baldwin thus became the first Count of Flanders. Some said he hoped Baldwin would be killed by raiding vikings.
But Baldwin proved to be a formidable administrator. He built fortifications around Arras, Bruges and Gent, ordered the contruction of churches, the foundation of abbeys, and repelled a few viking attacks.
He is also linked to the story of the 'Bear of Bruges'. A bear was terrorising the area around Bruges; so Baldwin decided to act, took his lance and killed the animal. The events also earned him the sobriquet 'Baldwin with the Iron Arm' (photo: Historiek)
Baldwin died in 879 and was buried at the Abbey of St-Bertin, St-Omer (then part of Flanders). He was succeeded by his son Baldwin II; who was married to Ælfthryth, daughter of King Alfred the Great.
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