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- AKA: Robert le Pieux ("The Pious")
- AKA: Robert le Sage ("The Wise")
- 996-1031: Robert II, King of the Francs
Robert II the Pious, the Wise Capet of France, King of France, Duke of Burgundy, was born 27 March 972 in Orléans, Orléanais, Loiret, France to Hugh Capet (c940-996) and Adelaide of Aquitaine (c945-1004) and died 20 July 1031 Meulan, Ile-de-France, France of unspecified causes. He married Rozela di Ivrea (955-c1003) 992 JL in Melun, Île-de-France. He married Bertha de Bourgogne (967-1016) 996 JL in Melun, Île-de-France. He married Constance of Arles (986-1034) .
Biography
Robert II of France, also known as Robert the Pious or Robert the Wise, was King of France from 996 to 1031. He was born on March 27, 972, in Orleans, France, and was the son of King Hugh Capet and Adelaide of Aquitaine. Here are some key facts and events from Robert II's life:
- Accession to the throne: Robert II succeeded his father, Hugh Capet, as King of France in 996. He was already 24 years old at the time, which was considered quite old for a new king.
- Religious devotion: Robert II was known for his piety and devotion to the Church. He founded several monasteries and abbeys, including the Abbey of Sainte-Genevieve in Paris. He was also a strong supporter of the Cluniac Reforms, which aimed to improve the discipline and morality of the Church.
- Struggles with the Church: Despite his support for the Church, Robert II had some conflicts with the papacy. In 998, Pope Gregory V excommunicated Robert for marrying his second cousin, Bertha of Burgundy, who was related to him within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity. Robert had to do penance and seek absolution to have the excommunication lifted.
- Military campaigns: Robert II conducted several military campaigns during his reign. He fought against the Vikings who had settled in Normandy, and also against the Muslims in Spain. He also waged war against his own vassals who rebelled against him.
- Heretics of Orleans: The year 1000 constituted the "awakening of heresy". Before the High Middle Ages, there was no such persecution. The 11th century inaugurated a series of bonfire heretics in the West: Orléans (1022), Milan (1027), and Cambrai (1078). As for Robert II, the case of the heretics of Orléans was a fundamental part of his reign and, at the time, of an unprecedented impact.[1] The nature of the events is told to us by exclusively ecclesiastical sources: Rodulfus Glaber, Adémar de Chabannes, Andrew of Fleury, Jean de Ripoll and Paul de Chartres. The year 1000 extended the idea of a corrupt century where the wealth of the clergy contrasted terribly with the humility advocated by Jesus Christ. Some clerics questioned this system and wished to purify Christian society. This debate was not new: already in the 9th century, there was controversy among scholars about the Eucharist and the cult of saints, but in 1022, it was of a different nature.
- Succession: Robert II had three sons, but only one of them, Henry, survived to adulthood. However, Henry died before Robert II, leaving no direct heir. Robert II's son-in-law, Ralph of Burgundy, succeeded him as king, but his reign was short-lived, and the Capetian dynasty was eventually restored with the accession of Robert II's grandson, Philip I.
Robert II died on July 20, 1031, at Melun, France, at the age of 59. He was buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis, which was the traditional burial place of the French kings.
Family
Robert II, also known as Robert the Pious, had several wives and mistresses throughout his life. Robert II's relationships with his wives and mistresses were controversial and scandalous at the time, and they continue to be a subject of interest for historians and the public. However, it's important to note that attitudes towards marriage and extramarital relationships were different in Robert II's time than they are today, and it's difficult to apply modern standards of morality to his actions. Here is some information about them:
1st Marriage: Rosella of Italy
First wife: Robert II's first wife was Rosella of Italy (945-1003), a noblewoman from Italy. They were married in 988, but the marriage was annulled in 992 due to consanguinity (they were too closely related). (Yes, she was 22 years old than him also!)
Immediately after associating his son with the throne, Hugh Capet wanted Robert II to marry a royal princess, but the prohibition against marriage within the third degree of consanguinity obliged him to seek a bride in the East. He had a letter written by Gerbert of Aurillac asking the Byzantine Emperor Basil II for the hand of one of his nieces for Robert II; however, no Byzantine response is recorded.[2] After this rebuff, and under pressure from his father (who apparently wanted to reward the Flemish for their help when he seized power in 987),[3] Robert II had to marry Rozala, daughter of Berengar II of Ivrea, King of Italy and widow of Arnulf II, Count of Flanders. The wedding, celebrated before 1 April 988, brought Robert II possession of the cities of Montreuil and Ponthieu and a possible guardianship over the County of Flanders, given the young age of Rozala's son Baldwin IV, for whom she had been acting as regent ever since her first husband's death.[4][5]
Upon her marriage, Rozala became junior Queen consort of the Franks and took the name of Susanna;[6][7] however, after about three or four years of marriage (c. 991–992), the young Robert II repudiated her,[8] due to the excessive age difference between them (Rozala was almost 22 years older than him [9] and probably too old to have more children). In fact, the breakup was justified by the absence of a child from their union and, for this reason, Hugh Capet and his advisers did not oppose the annulment proceedings.
2nd Marriage: Bertha of Burgundy
Second wife: After his first marriage was annulled, Robert II married Bertha of Burgundy in 996. Bertha was his second cousin, which caused some controversy and led to his excommunication by Pope Gregory V.
Now Robert II was determined to find a bride who would give him the much hoped-for male offspring. In early 996, probably during the military campaign against Count Odo I of Blois, he met Countess Bertha of Burgundy, wife of the latter. She was a daughter of King Conrad of Burgundy[10] and his wife Matilda (in turn daughter of King Louis IV of France and Gerberga of Saxony, sister of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor), so was from an undisputed royal lineage. Robert II and Bertha quickly became attracted to each other despite the complete resistance of Hugh Capet[lower-alpha 1] (the House of Blois was the great enemy of the Capetian dynasty). However, Robert II saw, in addition to his personal feelings, that Bertha would also bring all the Blois territories under Capetian control.[12] The deaths in 996 of Odo I of Blois (12 March) and Hugh Capet (24 October) eliminated the main obstacles for a union between Robert II and Bertha.
According to French historian Michel Rouche, this alliance was purely political: to loosen the grip threatening the Capetian dynasty and its stronghold of Île-de-France, and probably according to the will of Robert II's mother, Queen Adelaide of Aquitaine; indeed, the territories of Odo I were Blois, Chartres, Melun and Meaux. In addition, the couple were just waiting for the statutory nine months set by law after Odo I's death. It was, therefore, obvious that another objective was to have legitimate children.[13]
Robert II and Bertha quickly found a complacent bishop to marry them off, which Archambaud de Sully, Archbishop of Tours, finally did in November/December 996,[11] much to the chagrin of the new Pope Gregory V. To please the Holy See, Robert II annulled the sentence of the Council of Saint-Basle, freed Archbishop Arnoul and restored him to the episcopal see of Reims. Gerbert of Aurillac then had to take refuge with Emperor Otto III in 997. Despite this, the Pope ordered Robert II and Bertha to put an end to their "incestuous union".[15] Finally, the two councils which met first in Pavia (February 997), then in Rome (summer 998), condemned them to do penance for seven years and, in the event of non-separation, they would be struck with excommunication.[16] Moreover, at the end of three years of union, there were no living descendants: Bertha gave birth only to one stillborn son, in 999. That year, the accession of Gerbert of Aurillac to the Papacy under the name of Sylvester II did not change anything. Following a synod, the new Pope accepted the condemnation of the King of the Franks whose "perfidy" he had suffered.[14] Finally, the seven years of penance were completed around 1003.[17]
«They came to the Apostolic See and after having received satisfaction for their penance, they returned home (Postea ad sedem apostolicam venientes, cum satisfactione suscepta penitentia, redierunt ad propria).»[17]
Despite the threat of excommunication, Robert II and Bertha refused to submit until September 1001, when they finally became separated. The inability of Bertha to produce further offspring after her stillbirth was probably the main reason for this. Robert II, in need of male heirs, decided to remarry one more time.[17]
3rd Marriage: Constance of Arles
Third wife: After the death of Bertha of Burgundy in 1010, Robert II married Constance of Arles, who was the daughter of William I, Count of Provence. They had several children together, including a son, Henry, who would later become King of France.
After October 1002 and before August 1004, Robert II contracted his third and last marriage (to a distant princess to avoid any close relationship) with the 17 year old Constance, daughter of Count William I of Arles and Provence and his wife Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou.[18] The new Queen's parents were prestigious in their own right: Count William I was nicknamed "the Liberator" (le Libérateur) thanks to his victories against the Saracens, and Countess Adelaide-Blanche's blood relations with the House of Ingelger allowed Robert II to restored his alliance with them.[19] Six[lower-alpha 2]
Since early in her marriage, Constance often placed herself at the center of many intrigues to preserve a preponderant place in the Frankish court. Rodolfus Glaber rightly emphasized that the Queen was "in control of her husband". For contemporaries, a woman who led her husband implied an abnormal situation. It all started at the beginning of the year 1008, a day when the King and his faithful Count palatine Hugh of Beauvais were hunting in the forest of Orléans. Suddenly, twelve armed men appeared and threw themselves on Hugh before killing him under the eyes of the king. The crime was ordered by Count Fulk III of Anjou, and with all probability supported by the Queen.[lower-alpha 3] Robert II, exasperated by his wife after six or seven years of marriage (c. 1009–1010), went personally to Rome accompanied by Angilramme (a monk from Saint-Riquier) and Bertha de Burgundy. His plan was to obtain from Pope Sergius IV an annulment from his marriage with Constance and to remarry Bertha,[23][24] whom Robert II still loved deeply,[17] under the grounds of Constance's participation in the murder of Hugh of Beauvais. Odorannus, a Benedictine monk from the Abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif in Sens, explains in his writings that during her husband's journey to Rome, Constance withdrew in distress to her dominions at Theil. According to him, Saint Savinian would have appeared to him and secured that the royal marriage would be preserved; three days later, Robert II was back, definitively abandoning Bertha.[lower-alpha 4]
Children born from Constance's marriage to Robert II are recorded:
- Hedwig of France, Countess of Nevers, Countess of Auxerre , married Renauld I, Count of Nevers[26] on 25 January 1016 and had issue.
- Hugh Magnus of France (1007-1025), - was the eldest son of Robert II. He died young, in 1025, and never became king.
- Henry I of France (1008-1060), successor to Robert II as King of the Franks.[27] He became King upon his father's death in 1031, but died just four years later without leaving any heirs.
- Adèle of France (1009-1079) Countess of Flanders, Countess of Contenance , married (1) Richard III of Normandy (997-1027) and (2) Count Baldwin V of Flanders.[27]. Had issue with Baldwin:
- Robert I de Bourgogne (1011-1076) named by his father heir to the Duchy of Burgundy in 1030, installed as such in 1032 by his brother.[27] and played an important role in French politics during his lifetime.
- Odo Capet (c1013-1056), who may have been intellectually disabled according to the chronicle (ended in 1138) of Pierre, son of Béchin, canon of Saint-Martin-de-Tours. He died after his brother's failed invasion of Normandy.
- Constance Capet (1014-1042) = She married Manasses de Dammartin and had several children.
Other Relationships
Robert II is purported to have had several mistresses and other children during his lifetime. No documentation to substantiate any of these at this time:
Children
Siblings
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Gisele Capet (c968-c1000) | 968 France | 1000 France | Hugues de Ponthieu (c970-c1000) |
Hedwig Capet (c969-1013) | 969 | 1013 | Regnier IV de Mons (?-1013) Hugh de Dagsbourg (c970-) |
Robert II of France (972-1031) | 27 March 972 Orléans, Orléanais, Loiret, France | 20 July 1031 Meulan, Ile-de-France, France | Rosella of Italy (945-1003) Bertha de Bourgogne (967-1016) Constance of Arles (986-1034) |
Adela Capet (c973-c1068) |
See Also
- Charlemagne Family Ancestry
- Capetian dynasty
- House of Normandy
- wikipedia:en:Robert II of France
- Robert II, Roi des Francs at thePeerage
- Capetian Kings - Foundation for Medieval Genealogy
- Robert II Capet, "the Pious" king of the Franks - Geni.com
- Robert II of France at Find A Grave
- Henry II of England's ancestor, number 54.
References
- ^ Dominique Barthélemy, An mil: le grand réveil de l’hérésie (in French). Les collections de l’Histoire, n° 26, January 2005.
- ^ Bouchard 1981, p. 274, 276.
- ^ Nicholas 1992, p. 45.
- ^ Theis 1999, pp. 53–55.
- ^ Pierre Riché, Les Carolingiens, une famille qui fit l’Europe (in French). Hachette, Paris, 1997, p. 303.
- ^ Pfister1885, p. 41–69.
- ^ Bouchard 1981, p. 273.
- ^ Thierry Deslot, Impératrices et reines de France (in French). Editions de la Bruyère, 1996. ISBN 978-2840142799
- ^ Vasiliev 1951, p. 233–234.
- ^ Stefan Weinfurter, The Salian Century: Main Currents in an Age of Transition, transl. Barbara M. Bowlus, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999), p. 46.
- ^ a b Pierre Riché, Gerbert d'Aurillac, Le pape de l'an mil (in French). Fayard, Paris 1987, p. 168.
- ^ Theis 1999, pp. 80–83.
- ^ Michel Rouche, Gerbert face au mariage incestueux: le cas de Robert le Pieux, (in French) in acts of the study days of Aurillac, Gerbert, Moine, Évêque et Pape, Aurillac, ed. Association cantalienne pour la commémoration du pape Gerbert, 2000, p. 155.
- ^ a b Pierre Riché, Gerbert d'Aurillac, Le pape de l'an mil (in French). Fayard, Paris 1987, pp. 200–201.
- ^ Menant 1999, pp. 35–36.
- ^ Palmer 2014, p. 215.
- ^ a b c d Michel Rouche, Gerbert face au mariage incestueux: le cas de Robert le Pieux, (in French) in acts of the study days of Aurillac, Gerbert, Moine, Évêque et Pape, Aurillac, ed. Association cantalienne pour la commémoration du pape Gerbert, 2000, p. 160.
- ^ Theis 1999, p. 131.
- ^ Menant 1999, p. 36.
- ^ Donald C. Jackman, Extension of Latin Relationship Terms in Medieval France. Archive for Medieval Prosopography n° 15, 2019, 74 p. ISBN 978-1-936466-65-8 online
- ^ Philippe Thuillot, Les châtellenies au nord du Bassin parisien, du Xe au XIIIe siècles: étude sur les cadres institutionnels et les lieux de pouvoir, sur la société aristocratique (princes, comtes et chevaliers) (in French). Histoire. Université Paris-Est, 2019, p. 365.
- ^ Theis 1999, p. 142.
- ^ Adair 2003, p. 13.
- ^ Christian Bouyer, Dictionnaire des Reines de France (in French). Academic Library Perrin, 1992. ISBN 2-262-00789-6
- ^ Odorannus, Opera omnia, ed. and trad. by Robert-Henri Bautier, CNRS, Paris, 1972.
- ^ Bouchard 1987, p. 343.
- ^ a b c Bouchard 2001, p. 112.
Tomb at Saint-Denis
Contemporary Sources
There are several contemporary references that provide information about Robert II, King of France. Some of the best sources include:
- The Chronicle of Richer of Reims: Richer of Reims was a monk and historian who wrote a chronicle of the history of France from the reign of King Charles the Fat to the year 998. His chronicle provides information about Robert II's accession to the throne and his conflicts with the papacy.
- The Annals of Flodoard: Flodoard was a historian and chronicler who lived in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. His annals cover the years from 919 to 966, and then from 966 to 999. They provide detailed information about Robert II's reign, including his military campaigns and his relationships with his wives and mistresses.
- The Life of Gerbert of Aurillac: Gerbert of Aurillac was a scholar and theologian who became Pope Sylvester II in 999. His life was written by a contemporary, a monk named Adalbero of Laon, who knew both Gerbert and Robert II. The life provides information about Robert II's support for Gerbert's education and his relationship with the papacy.
- The Letters of Gerbert of Aurillac: Gerbert of Aurillac wrote many letters during his lifetime, including several to Robert II. These letters provide insights into the intellectual and religious interests of both men, as well as their political and diplomatic concerns.
Bibliography
- Adair, Penelope Ann (2003). "Constance of Arles: A Study in Duty and Frustration". In Nolan, Kathleen D.. Capetian Women. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Bachrach, Bernard S. (1993). Fulk Nerra, the Neo-Roman Consul 987–1040: A Political Biography of the Angevin Count. University of California Press.
- Barthélemy, Dominique (1990) (in fr). L'Ordre seigneurial, XIe – XIIe siècle. Paris: Seuil. ISBN 978-2-02-011554-4.
- Barthélemy, Dominique (1997) (in fr). La mutation de l'an Mil a-t-elle eu lieu ? Servage et chevalerie dans la France des Xe – XIe siècle. Paris: Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-59998-4.
- Barthélemy, Dominique (1999) (in fr). L'An mil et la paix de Dieu. Paris: Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-60429-9.
- Bautier, Robert-Henri (1992) (in fr). L'avènement d'Hugues Capet et de Robert le Pieux. Paris: Picard. pp. 27–37.
- Berlioz, Jacques (1990). "Les Terreurs de l'an mil ont-elles vraiment existé ?" (in fr). L'Histoire: 16–18.
- Bonnassie, Pierre (1990) (in fr). D'une servitude à l'autre: Les paysans du royaume 987–1031. Paris: Seuil.
- Bouchard, Constance B. (1981). "Consanguinity and Noble Marriages in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries". Speculum 56.2 (April) (2): 268–287. DOI:10.2307/2846935. PMID 11610836.
- Bouchard, Constance B. (1987). Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980–1188. Cornell University Press.
- Bouchard, Constance Brittain (2001). Those of My Blood: Creating Noble Families in Medieval Francia. University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Bourin, Monique; Parisse, Michel (1999) (in fr). L'Europe en l'an Mil. Paris. ISBN 978-2-253-90564-6.
- Chevalier, C. (1872) (in fr). Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Noyers. Tours: Guilland-Verger, Georget-Joubert. pp. charter I.
- Contamine, Philippe; Bompaire, Marc; Lebecq, Stéphane; Sarrazin, Jean-Luc (2004) (in fr). L'Économie médiévale. Armand Colin.
- de Fleury, Helgaud (1824) (in fr). Vie du roi Robert le Pieux (Epitoma vitæ regis Roberti pii). Paris: Brière. http://www.corpusetampois.com/cls-11-helgaldus-vitarotberti1824guizot.html. —There is also a more recent translation produced by Robert-Henri Bautier, CNRS, Paris, 1993.
- Fawtier, Robert (1989). The Capetian Kings of France. Macmillan.
- Gauvard, Claude (1996) (in fr). La France au Moyen Âge du Ve au XVe siècle. Paris: PUF. ISBN 2-13-054205-0.
- Goetz, Hans-Werner (1992). La paix de Dieu en France autour de l'an Mil: fondements et objectifs, diffusions et participants. Paris: Picard.
- Iogna-Prat, Dominique (1990) (in fr). Religion et culture autour de l'an Mil. Paris: Picard. ISBN 978-2-7084-0392-5.
- Lauranson-Rosaz, Christian (2002). Paix de Dieu. Paris: Dictionnaire du Moyen Âge, PUF. pp. 1035–1037.
- Lewis, Andrew W. (1978). "Anticipatory Association of the Heir in Early Capetian France". The American Historical Review 83: 906–927. DOI:10.2307/1867651.
- Lévêque, Pierre (1996) (in fr). La Côte-d'Or de la Préhistoire à nos jours. Bordessoules. ISBN 978-2-903504-43-4.
- MacCulloch, Diarmaid (2010). A History of Christianity. Penguin Books.
- Menant, François (1999) (in fr). Les Capétiens. Histoire et dictionnaire. 987-1328. Paris: Robert Laffont. ISBN 978-2-221-05687-5.
- Nicholas, David (1992). Medieval Flanders. Longman.
- Palmer, James (2014). The Apocalypse in the Early Middle Ages. Cambridge University Press.
- Parisse, Michel (1990) (in fr). Qu'est-ce que la France de l'an Mil ?. Paris: Seuil. pp. 29–48.
- Pfister, Charles (1885) (in fr). Etudes sur le règne de Robert le Pieux. Paris. pp. 41–69.
- Richard, Jean (1954) (in fr). Les ducs de Bourgogne et la formation du duché du XI e au XIV e siècle. Les Belles Lettres. https://books.google.com/books?id=n4epzAEACAAJ.
- Sassier, Yves (1987) (in fr). Hugues Capet. Paris: Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-01919-2.
- Sassier, Yves (2000) (in fr). Royauté et idéologie au Moyen Âge. Paris: Colin. ISBN 978-2-200-01656-2.
- Theis, Laurent (1990). "Nouvelle histoire de la France médiévale" (in fr). L'Héritage des Charles: De la mort de Charlemagne aux environs de l'an mil – Points. Histoire 2.
- Theis, Laurent (1999) (in fr). Robert le Pieux. Paris: Perrin. ISBN 978-2-262-01375-2.
- Vasiliev, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich (1951). "Hugh Capet of France and Byzantium". Dumbarton Oaks Papers 6: 227–251. DOI:10.2307/1291087.
- Werner, Karl Ferdinand (1990) (in fr). Dieu, les rois et l'Histoires. Paris: Seuil.
Robert II of France (972-1031) Born: 27 March 972 Died: 20 July 1031
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Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by Hugh |
King of the Franks 987–1031 with Hugh Capet as senior king (987–996) Hugh Magnus as junior king (1017–1026) Henry I as junior king (1027–1031) |
Succeeded by Henry I |
Preceded by Otto William |
Duke of Burgundy 1004–1016 |
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Footnotes (including sources)
§ Remains |
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AMK152, Phlox, Rtol, Thurstan, MainTour, Ozesoldier
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