Ninth century Flanders was a land of rivers, salt marshes, and inland forests that limited population growth.[5] The river systems made it easy for Viking longships to navigate. So they could appear in any of a number of places making them a real danger for the people living there.[5] They were so far away from the King's castles and well populated areas that they could expect no help. Local counts took over the defense of Flanders and eventually made Flanders one of the richest principalities in west Frankia (now France).[5] At the death of Baldwin I Iron Arm, Flanders experienced four years of non-stop viking raids. They pillaged, burned and sacked everything they could reach.[5] The vikings even took over Ghent and made it their base of operations.[5] This was a major opportunity for Baldwin II. He took over areas abandoned by other counts and this gave him an abundance of land.[5] He gave many of these lands to his followers as rewards for helping him defend Flanders. He repaired old Roman walls and built new forts. He greatly expanded the size of Flanders.[5]
