Lambert II, Count of Louvain

Lambert II
Count of Louvain
Died	19 June 1054 Tournai
Noble family	House of Reginar
Spouse(s)	Oda of Verdun
Issue	Henry II, Count of Louvain Régnier Gerberge
Father	Lambert I, Count of Louvain
Mother	Gerberga of Lower Lorraine

Lambert II (died Tournai, 19 June 1054) was count of Leuven between 1033 and 1054. Lambert was the son of Lambert I of Louvain and Gerberga, daughter of Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine.^[1]

According to the Vita Gudilae (recorded between 1048–1051) he followed his brother Henry I of Louvain as Count of Leuven. Lambert scorned both temporal and spiritual authorities and in 1054 even took up arms against Holy Roman Emperor Henry III. He was defeated and lost his life at Tournai.

During his reign Brussels began its growth. Lambert arranged to transfer the remains of Saint Gudula to the St. Michael's church. This church, thereafter known as the Saints Michael and Gudula Church, later became the St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral. Lambert also constructed a fortress on the Coudenberg hill.

Lambert II died in 1054.

Family

Lambert of Louvain married Uda of Lorraine (also called Oda of Verdun), daughter of Gothelo I, Duke of Lorraine.^[2] Their children were:

• Henry II, Count of Louvain,^[3] who married Adela of Orthen, a daughter of Count Everard of Orthen (or Betuwe).
• Adela of Louvain, married Otto I, Margrave of Meissen, Count of Weimar.^[4] Later married Dedi I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark.
• Reginar (Rainier) of Louvain. Killed in the battle of Hesbaye in 1077.

References

1. Bachrach, Bachrach & Leese 2018, p. xvi.
2. Tanner 2004, p. 300.
3. Tanner 2004, p. 307.
4. Robinson 2015, p. 116.

Sources

• Bachrach, Bernard S.; Bachrach, David S.; Leese, Michael, eds. (2018). Deeds of the Bishops of Cambrai, Translation and Commentary. Routledge.
• Tanner, Heather (2004). Families, Friends and Allies: Boulogne and Politics in Northern France and England, c.879-1160. Brill.
• Robinson, I.S., ed. (2015). The annals of Lampert of Hersfeld. Manchester University Press.