Individual Details
Duke Hugues (le grand) of France, Marquees of Neustrie.
(895 - 19 Jun 956)
Hugues was born about 900, the son of Robert I, king of France and nephew of King Eudes. His eldest son Hugues Capet would become king of France in 987. His family is known as the Robertians.
About 922 Hugues married Judith de Bourges. After her death without progeny in 925, he married Eadhild/Eadhylde of Wessex, daughter of Edward 'the Elder', king of England, and half-sister of Athelstan, Edmund I and Edred, all kings of England. Eadhild died in 937 without progeny.
At the death in 936 of Raoul, king of France and duke of Burgundy, Hugues was in possession of nearly all the region between the Loire and the Seine, corresponding to the ancient Neustria, with the exception of the territory ceded to the Normans in 911. He took a very active part in bringing Louis IV d'Outremer from the kingdom of England in 936. In 938 Hugues married Hadevich of Saxony, a daughter of emperor-elect Heinrich I 'the Fowler' and Mathilde von Ringelheim. Hugues and Hadevich had at least five children, of whom three, including Hugues Capet, would have progeny.
Hugues fell out with Louis IV soon after Louis' accession, and he even paid homage to Louis' brother-in-law Otto I, emperor from 936, and supported him in his struggle against Louis. When Louis fell into the hands of the Normans in 945, he was handed over to Hugues, who released him in 946 only on condition that he should surrender the fortress of Laon. At the council of Ingelheim in 948, Hugues was condemned under pain of excommunication, to make reparation to Louis. It was not, however, until 950 that the powerful vassal became reconciled with his sovereign and returned Laon to Louis. But new difficulties arose, and peace was not finally concluded until 953.
On the death of Louis IV in 954, Hugues was one of the first to recognise his son Lothar as his successor, and, at the intervention of Queen Gerberga, was instrumental in having him crowned. In recognition of this service Hugues was invested by the new king with the duchies of Burgundy (his sovereignty over which he had already been nominally recognised by Louis IV) and Aquitaine. His expedition in 955 to take possession of Aquitaine was unsuccessful, but in the same year, Giselbert, duc de Bourgogne and comte de Châlon sur Saône, acknowledged himself as Hugues' vassal and betrothed his daughter to Hugues' son Otto. At Giselbert's death on 8 April 956, Hugues became effective master of the duchy, but he died soon afterwards, on the 16 June 956 at Dourdan.
In the _Divine Comedy_ Dante meets the soul of Hugues in Purgatory, lamenting the avarice of his descendants.
Source: Leo van de Pas
About 922 Hugues married Judith de Bourges. After her death without progeny in 925, he married Eadhild/Eadhylde of Wessex, daughter of Edward 'the Elder', king of England, and half-sister of Athelstan, Edmund I and Edred, all kings of England. Eadhild died in 937 without progeny.
At the death in 936 of Raoul, king of France and duke of Burgundy, Hugues was in possession of nearly all the region between the Loire and the Seine, corresponding to the ancient Neustria, with the exception of the territory ceded to the Normans in 911. He took a very active part in bringing Louis IV d'Outremer from the kingdom of England in 936. In 938 Hugues married Hadevich of Saxony, a daughter of emperor-elect Heinrich I 'the Fowler' and Mathilde von Ringelheim. Hugues and Hadevich had at least five children, of whom three, including Hugues Capet, would have progeny.
Hugues fell out with Louis IV soon after Louis' accession, and he even paid homage to Louis' brother-in-law Otto I, emperor from 936, and supported him in his struggle against Louis. When Louis fell into the hands of the Normans in 945, he was handed over to Hugues, who released him in 946 only on condition that he should surrender the fortress of Laon. At the council of Ingelheim in 948, Hugues was condemned under pain of excommunication, to make reparation to Louis. It was not, however, until 950 that the powerful vassal became reconciled with his sovereign and returned Laon to Louis. But new difficulties arose, and peace was not finally concluded until 953.
On the death of Louis IV in 954, Hugues was one of the first to recognise his son Lothar as his successor, and, at the intervention of Queen Gerberga, was instrumental in having him crowned. In recognition of this service Hugues was invested by the new king with the duchies of Burgundy (his sovereignty over which he had already been nominally recognised by Louis IV) and Aquitaine. His expedition in 955 to take possession of Aquitaine was unsuccessful, but in the same year, Giselbert, duc de Bourgogne and comte de Châlon sur Saône, acknowledged himself as Hugues' vassal and betrothed his daughter to Hugues' son Otto. At Giselbert's death on 8 April 956, Hugues became effective master of the duchy, but he died soon afterwards, on the 16 June 956 at Dourdan.
In the _Divine Comedy_ Dante meets the soul of Hugues in Purgatory, lamenting the avarice of his descendants.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 895 | ||||
| Marriage | 937 | Hedwig von Sachsen | |||
| Death | 19 Jun 956 |
Families
| Spouse | Hedwig von Sachsen (922 - 965) |
| Child | Hugues I Capet, King of France (941 - 996) |
| Father | Robert I King of France (866 - 923) |
| Mother | Beatrice de Vermandois (880 - 931) |