Hildegard of Flanders

Hildegard of Flanders (died 990) was a Flemish countess in the 10th century. She is one of the oldest depicted people in Dutch history.

Biography

Hildegard and Dirk implore Saint Adalbert, illustration from the Egmond Gospels

Hildegard was the daughter of Arnulf I, Count of Flanders, making her descendant from the Carolingian dynasty. She married Dirk II, Count of Holland and died in 990.^[1][2]

Together with her husband she donated the so-called Egmond Gospels to the abbey of Egmond.^[3] Hildegard's depiction in this book, together with her husband Dirk II, are the oldest known depiction of individuals from the Low Countries. It shows the couple presenting the Gospel to the abbey and another one of the couple invoking the intercession of Adalbert before Christ's throne.^[4]

Issue

Out of her marriage with Dirk she gave birth to the following people:

• Arnulf, Count of Holland (d. 993)^[2]
• Egbert, Archbishop of Trier (fl. 977–993)