Robert I of France
Encyclopedia
Robert I King of Western Francia (922–923), was the younger son of Robert the Strong
, count of Anjou, and the brother of Odo
, who became king of the Western Franks in 888. West Francia evolved over time into France
; under Odo, the capital was fixed on Paris
, a large step in that direction. His family is known as the Robertians.
He was present at the Siege of Paris
in 885. Appointed by Odo
ruler of several counties, including the county of Paris
, and abbot
in commendam of many abbeys, Robert also secured the office of Dux Francorum
, a military dignity of high importance. He did not claim the crown of West Francia when his brother died in 898; but recognising the supremacy of the Carolingian
king, Charles the Simple
, he was confirmed in his offices and possessions, after which he continued to defend northern Francia from the attacks of the Norsemen
.
The peace between the king and his powerful vassal was not seriously disturbed until about 921. The rule of Charles, and especially his partiality for a certain Hagano
, had aroused some irritation; and, supported by many of the clergy and by some of the most powerful of the Frankish nobles, Robert took up arms, drove Charles into Lorraine
, and was himself crowned king of the Franks (rex Francorum) at Rheims on 29 June 922. Collecting an army, Charles marched against the usurper and, on 15 June 923, in a stubborn and sanguinary battle near Soissons
, Robert was killed, according to one tradition in single combat with his rival. His army nonetheless won the battle, and Charles was captured.
Robert was married twice. Through his first wife, Aelis, he had two daughters. Each married powerful lay vassals of their father: Emma of France
(894–935) to Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, and Hildebranda (895–931) to Herbert II of Vermandois. Through his second wife, Béatrice of Vermandois
, daughter of Herbert I of Vermandois
, he had his only son, Hugh the Great
, who was later dux Francorum and father of King Hugh Capet
, and a daughter Richilda. He may have had other daughters.
Robert the Strong
Robert IV the Strong , also known as Rutpert, was Margrave in Neustria. His family is named after him and called Robertians. He was first nominated by Charles the Bald missus dominicus in 853. Robert was the father of the kings Odo and Robert I of France. Robert was the great-grandfather of Hugh...
, count of Anjou, and the brother of Odo
Odo, Count of Paris
Odo was a King of Western Francia, reigning from 888 to 898. He was a son of Robert the Strong, count of Anjou, whose branch of the family is known as the Robertians....
, who became king of the Western Franks in 888. West Francia evolved over time into France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; under Odo, the capital was fixed on Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a large step in that direction. His family is known as the Robertians.
He was present at the Siege of Paris
Siege of Paris (885-886)
The Siege of Paris of 885 to 886 was a Viking siege of Paris, then capital of the kingdom of the West Franks. It was, in hindsight, the most important event of the reign of the Emperor Charles the Fat and a turning point in the fortunes of the Carolingian dynasty and the history of France.The...
in 885. Appointed by Odo
Odo, Count of Paris
Odo was a King of Western Francia, reigning from 888 to 898. He was a son of Robert the Strong, count of Anjou, whose branch of the family is known as the Robertians....
ruler of several counties, including the county of Paris
Count of Paris
Count of Paris was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. Eventually, the count of Paris was elected to the French throne...
, and abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
in commendam of many abbeys, Robert also secured the office of Dux Francorum
Duke of the Franks
The title dux et princeps Francorum, or duke and prince of the Franks, was the title adopted by Pepin of Heristal after his epoch-making victory at the Battle of Tertry in 687...
, a military dignity of high importance. He did not claim the crown of West Francia when his brother died in 898; but recognising the supremacy of the Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
king, Charles the Simple
Charles the Simple
Charles III , called the Simple or the Straightforward , was the undisputed King of France from 898 until 922 and the King of Lotharingia from 911 until 919/23...
, he was confirmed in his offices and possessions, after which he continued to defend northern Francia from the attacks of the Norsemen
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
.
The peace between the king and his powerful vassal was not seriously disturbed until about 921. The rule of Charles, and especially his partiality for a certain Hagano
Hagano
Hagano was a petty nobleman who achieved influence in Lotharingia and West Francia during the rule of Charles the Simple . He was a relative of Charles' first wife, Frederuna, and was originally from Lotharingia. Though Frederuna had died in 917, by 918 Hagano had become the king's favourite and...
, had aroused some irritation; and, supported by many of the clergy and by some of the most powerful of the Frankish nobles, Robert took up arms, drove Charles into Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, and was himself crowned king of the Franks (rex Francorum) at Rheims on 29 June 922. Collecting an army, Charles marched against the usurper and, on 15 June 923, in a stubborn and sanguinary battle near Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
, Robert was killed, according to one tradition in single combat with his rival. His army nonetheless won the battle, and Charles was captured.
Robert was married twice. Through his first wife, Aelis, he had two daughters. Each married powerful lay vassals of their father: Emma of France
Emma of France
Emma of France was daughter of Robert I of France and Aelis. In 921 she married Duke Rudolph of Burgundy who was crowned king 13 July 923, at Saint-Médard de Soissons. She was very politically active and an army leader. The marriage produced a son, who died young. She died in 934, after having...
(894–935) to Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, and Hildebranda (895–931) to Herbert II of Vermandois. Through his second wife, Béatrice of Vermandois
Béatrice of Vermandois
Béatrice of Vermandois was the wife of Robert I, King of France . She is sometimes stated to be the sister of Herbert II, Count of Vermandois. No contemporary source explicitly states that Heribert II and Beatrix were the children of Herbert I, and researchers are divided on the probablity of this...
, daughter of Herbert I of Vermandois
Herbert I, Count of Vermandois
Herbert I of Vermandois , Count of Vermandois, lord of Senlis, of Péronne and of Saint Quentin, was the son of Pepin of Vermandois.-Marriage and issue:...
, he had his only son, Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great or Hugues le Grand was duke of the Franks and count of Paris, son of King Robert I of France and nephew of King Odo. He was born in Paris, Île-de-France, France. His eldest son was Hugh Capet who became King of France in 987...
, who was later dux Francorum and father of King Hugh Capet
Hugh Capet of France
Hugh Capet , called in contemporary sources "Hugh the Great" , was the first King of France of the eponymous Capetian dynasty from his election to succeed the Carolingian Louis V in 987 until his death.-Descent and inheritance:...
, and a daughter Richilda. He may have had other daughters.