Henriksson Engström

Eberhard was the son of Adolf II, Graf (Count) von Berg (or Adolf IV)[1]Graf (Count) von Berg and his second wife. He was probably born in the early to mid 1120s[2]. Eberhard's second wife seems to have been heiress of Altena, and he became Graf von Altena from about 1160 or 1161, [3] as Eberhard I. He may perhaps have also been Graf von Berg, perhaps ruling jointly with his brother Englibert I, but this isn't clear from the sources. Eberhard died on 23 January 1180[4] and was buried at Altenberg.[5]

He possibly married firstly a woman of the von Kleve family, the daughter of Arnold I von Kleve and his wife, Ida de Louvain, but this has yet to be confirmed from primary sources.[6]

He definitely married (as possibly his second wife), Adelheid von (or van) Cuyk-Arnsberg, the daughter of Gottfried I von Cuky (or Cuyck or Kuyc), Graf von Arnsberg, and his wife Ida (or Jutta or Sophie) von Arnsberg.[7]. As mentioned above she was the heiress of Altena. She became a nun after her husband's death and was Abbess of Meschede and Ödingen in 1200 and died sometime after 1200.[8]

There were four children, usually called the children of Adelheid, but Cawley points out they could be with either wife.

Arnold I, succeeded as Graf von Altena;
Adolf I, succeeded as Erzbischof (Archbishop) von Köln (Cologne), 1193-1205 and 1212-1214, died 15 November 1220[9]
Friedrich I von Altena
Oda von Altena