Charles DE FRANCE

Medieval Lands by Charles Cawley, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy CHARLES, son of Emperor LOUIS I "le Pieux" & his second wife Judith[Welf] (Frankfurt-am-Main 13 Jun 823-Avrieux or Brides-les-Bains,Savoie 6 Oct 877, bur Nantua Abbey, transferred to église de l'abbayeroyale de Saint-Denis). The Annales S. Benigni Divisionensis recordthe birth of "Karolus filius Ludowici" in Frankfurt "Idus Iun824"[224]. Thegan's Vita Hludowici Imperatoris names Charles as sonof his father by his second wife[225]. His father invested Charles asdux in Alemania, Rhetia, Alsace and part of Burgundy at Worms in Aug829, reducing the territory of his oldest brother Lothaire to Italy.This triggered the revolt of his older half-brothers in Mar 830, whenthey captured their father at Compiègne and forced him to revert tothe constitutional arrangements decided in 817. His father installedCharles as King of Aquitaine in Sep 832, having deprived Charles'shalf-brother Pépin. His father restored Aquitaine to Pépin 15 Mar 834at Quierzy-sur-Oise. His father accorded Charles the land betweenFrisia and the Seine at the assembly of Aix-la-Chapelle in 837, Maineand the land between the Seine and the Loire (as well as a royalcrown) in 838, and Francia between the Meuse and the Seine, westernand southern Burgundy, Provence, Neustria, the march of Bretagne,Aquitaine, Gascony and Septimania at the assembly of Worms 28 May 839.On the death of his father, he became King of the Franks of the West.His brother Emperor Lothaire sought to deprive him of his lands.Charles allied himself with his half-brother Ludwig and together theydefeated Lothaire at Fontenoy-en-Puisaye 25 Jun 841. Under thedivision of imperial territories agreed under the Treaty of Verdun 11Aug 843, he became CHARLES II “le Chauve” King of the West Franks.King of Aquitaine in 848, when he deposed his nephew Pépin II. WhenKing Charles II was faced with widespread rebellion, his brotherLudwig II "der Deutsche" King of the East Franks invaded his kingdomin Aug 858 but was defeated 15 Jan 859 in the Laonnais and forced towithdraw. In 865, Charles agreed with King Ludwig II the futuredivision of the territories of Lothaire II King of Lotharingia, but onthe latter's death in 869 Charles invaded Lotharingia and proclaimedhimself CHARLES King of Lotharingia before Ludwig could assert hisrights. A settlement was reached at Meerssen in Aug 870 under whichCharles received the Meuse valley, Lyonnais, Viennois and Vivarais,declaring himself king of Lotharingia in 869. He was crowned EmperorCHARLES II at Rome 25 Dec 875 by Pope John VIII, and elected king ofItaly at Pavia in 876[226]. The Annales S. Benigni Divisionensisrecord the death of "Karolus imperator Prid Non Oct 877"[227]. Thenecrology of Reims Saint-Rémi records the death "III Non Oct" of"Karolus Calvus rex Francorum"[228]. m firstly (Quierzy, Aisne 13 Dec 842, separated 867) ERMENTRUDIS,daughter of EUDES Comte [d’Orléans] & his wife Engeltrudis (27 Sep[830]-Saint-Denis 6 Oct 869, bur église de l'abbaye royale deSaint-Denis). The Annales Bertiniani record the marriage in 842 of"Ermendrud neptem Adalardi comitis" and "Karolus" at "Carisiacumpalatium"[229]. Nithard names "Hirmentrude, daughter of Odo andIngiltrud" as wife of Charles[230]. She was crowned in Aug 866 atSaint-Médard de Soissons. After she was separated from her husband,she retired to a monastery. The Annales Bertiniani record the death"869 II Non Oct in monasterio Sancti Dyonisii" of "Hyrmentrudem uxoremsuam [=Karoli]" and her burial at Saint-Denis[231]. The Obituaire deNotre-Dame de Paris records the death "Non Oct" of "Irmentrudis reginauxor Caroli"[232]. The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Denis recordsthe death "Non Oct" of "Hirmentrudis regina"[233]. m secondly (12 Oct 869, confirmed Aix-la-Chapelle 22 Jan 870)RICHILDIS, daughter of comte BUVINUS [Bouvin] & his wife --- d'Arles(-[30 Jan] [910 or after]). The Annales Bertiniani record themarriage "869 VII Id Oct" of "sororem…Bosonis…Richildem" and KingCharles II[234]. She was crowned empress at Tortona in Lombardy byPope John VIII in 877. “Richildis quondam regina” donated property,among which “in pago Gerbercinse in Langeii villa”, to Gorze Abbey bycharter dated 910[235]. The necrology of Reims Saint-Rémi records thedeath "III Kal Feb" of "RICHILDIS"[236]. Emperor Charles II & his first wife had nine children: 1. JUDITH ([844]-after 870). The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitisnames (in order) "Iudith et Hildegardim, Hirmintrudim et Gislam" asthe four daughters of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina",specifying that she married "Balduinus comes"[237]. The AnnalesBertiniani record the betrothal in Jul 856 of "Iudith filiam Karliregis" and "Edilvulf rex occidentalium Anglorum" after the latterreturned from Rome and their marriage "Kal Oct in Vermaria palatio",during which "Ingmaro Durocortori Remorum episcopo" set a queen'sdiadem on her head[238]. Her first husband placed her "by his ownside on the regal throne", contrary to normal practice in the kingdomof Wessex[239]. The Annales Bertiniani record the marriage of "Iuditreginam" and "Adalboldus filius eius [=Edilvulf regis]" in 858 afterthe death of her first husband[240]. Asser records that when KingÆthelwulf was dead, his son Æthelbald married Judith daughter ofCharles king of the Franks "contrary to God's prohibition and thedignity of a Christian, contrary also to the custom of all thepagans…and drew down much infamy upon himself"[241]. The AnnalesBertiniani record that Judith returned to her father after the deathof her second husband, lived at Senlis "sub tuitione paterna", andfrom there was abducted by "Balduinum comitem" with the consent of herbrother Louis, her father consenting to the marriage the followingyear[242]. Flodoard names "Balduini comitis et Iudita…Karoli regisfilia, Edilvulfo regi Anglorum qui et Edelboldus in matrimonium"[243].m firstly (Verberie-sur-Oise, near Senlis 1 Oct 856) as his[second/third] wife, ÆTHELWULF King of Wessex, son of ECGBERT King ofWessex & his wife Redburga --- ([795/800]-13 Jan 858, bur Winchester).m secondly (858) ÆTHELBALD King of Wessex, son of ÆTHELWULF King ofWessex & his [second] wife Osburga --- (-20 Dec 860, bur Sherborne).m thirdly (Auxerre 13 Dec 862) BAUDOUIN I Count of Flanders, son ofODACRE [Audacer/Odoscer] Graf van Harlebeek & his wife ---([837/840]-Arras 879, bur Abbaye de Saint-Bertin near Saint-Omer). 2. LOUIS (1 Nov 846-Compiègne 10 Apr 879, bur Compiègne,église collégiale Saint-Corneille). The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitisnames (in order) "Hludovicum Karolum Karlomannum et Hlotharium" as thefour sons of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina"[244]. Hesucceeded his father in 877 as LOUIS II "le Bègue" King of the WestFranks. - see below. 3. CHARLES ([847/48]-near Buzançais, Indre 29 Sep 866, burBourges, église de Saint-Sulpice). The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitisnames (in order) "Hludovicum Karolum Karlomannum et Hlotharium" as thefour sons of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina"[245]. ElectedKing of Aquitaine in Oct 855 at Limoges, and crowned. His residencewas at Bourges. He married against the wishes of his father, and wasdeprived of his titles in 863. He was restored as king of Aquitainein 865. The Annales Bertiniani record the death "866 III Kal Oct invilla secus Bosentiacas" of "Karoli filius Karolus et Aquitanorum rex"two years after suffering severe brain injuries, and his burial "inecclesia sancti Sulpitii apud Biturigum"[246]. The ChronicoFloriacensi records that "duo filii illius [Karolo Ludovicifilio]…Hlotharius Abbas et Karolus Rex Aquitanorum" died in 866[247].m (862, annulled 863) as her second husband, ---, widow of HUMBERTComte [de Bourges], daughter of ---. The Annales Bertiniani recordthe marriage in 862 of "Karolus rex Aquitannorum, Karoli regis filius"and "relictam Humberti comitis", on the advice of "Stephani" againstthe will of his father[248]. 4. CARLOMAN (-[877/78]). The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitisnames (in order) "Hludovicum Karolum Karlomannum et Hlotharium" as thefour sons of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina"[249]."Carlomannum" is named son of King Charles by Folcuin, who specifiesthat his father installed him as abbot "Laubiensi"[250]. The AnnalesBertiniani record that "Karlus rex Karlommanum filium suum" wastonsured in 854[251]. Abbé de Saint-Médard at Soissons 860. Heconspired against his father, was imprisoned at Senlis and deprived ofhis abbeys in 870. He escaped to Belgium. He was rejected by thechurch by judgment of the bishops meeting at Senlis in 873. Hisfather had him blinded and imprisoned at the monastery of Corbie in873. He fled to Ludwig II "der Deutsche" King of the East Franks. Hewas sent to Luxembourg where he became Abbot of Echternach in874[252]. 5. LOTHAIRE (-14 Dec 865). The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitisnames (in order) "Hludovicum Karolum Karlomannum et Hlotharium" as thefour sons of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina"[253]. He waslame from birth. The Annales Bertiniani record that "Karlus rexfilium Lotharium claudum" became a monk "in monasterio SanctiIohannis" in 861[254]. He became a monk at the abbey of MoutierSaint-Jean in 861. Abbé de Saint-Germain at Auxerre[255]. TheChronico Floriacensi records that "duo filii illius [Karolo Ludovicifilio]…Hlotharius Abbas et Karolus Rex Aquitanorum" died in 866[256].One necrology of Saint-Germain d´Auxerre records the death "XIX KalJan" of "domni Lotharii abbatis"[257]. 6. HILDEGARDIS. The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitis names (inorder) "Iudith et Hildegardim, Hirmintrudim et Gislam" as the fourdaughters of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina"[258]. 7. ERMENTRUDIS (-after 11 Jul 877). The Genealogica ArnulfiComitis names (in order) "Iudith et Hildegardim, Hirmintrudim etGislam" as the four daughters of "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudiregina"[259]. The Historia Monasterii Hasnonensis names "Ermentrudisimperatrix et regina cum filia Ermendtrude"[260]. Abbess of Hasnonnear Douai 11 Jul 877. 8. GISELA. The Genealogica Arnulfi Comitis names (in order)"Iudith et Hildegardim, Hirmintrudim et Gislam" as the four daughtersof "Karolus imperator…ex Hyrmentrudi regina"[261]. 9. [ROTRUDIS ([850]-). Settipani names Rotrudis as thedaughter of King Charles II but appears to base this on her beingnamed as such in the Genealogica Arnulfi Comitis[262], but this doesnot appear to be the case. Flodoard names "Rotrudi" when recordingher election as abbess of "monasterii Sanctæ Crucis et SanctæRadegundis" but does not give her parentage[263]. Abbess ofSainte-Radégonde at Poitiers 868-870.] Emperor Charles II & his second wife had five children: 10. ROTHILDIS ([871]-22 Mar 929). Charles III "le Simple" Kingof the West Franks confirmed donations of property "in comitatu quoqueCœnomannico" made by "Hugo comes et mater sua Rothildis", at therequest of "genitrix nostra Adeleidis et…comes Hugo consanguineus,necnon et…comes Ecfridus" by charter dated 1 Nov 900[264]. Thecharter dated 929 subscribed by "Hugonis comitis filii Rotgeriicomitis" suggests that Rothildis must have been the wife ofRoger[265]. Flodoard names "Rothildis, amitæ suæ [regis Karoli],socrus autem Hugonis" when recording that the king deprived her of"abbatiam…Golam" [Chelles] in favour of his favourite Haganon, thecontext dictating that "Hugonis" was "Hugo filius Rotberti"[266]. Asthe paternal aunt of King Charles III, chronology determines that shemust have been the daughter of her father's second marriage, althoughno source has so far been identified which states this to be the case.She acquired the monasteries of Chelles, and Notre-Dame andSaint-Jean at Laon. She retreated to Chelles in 922 but was deprivedof the monastery by her nephew Charles III "le Simple" King of theWest Franks in favour of his favourite Haganon, an event which led tothe rebellion of Robert Marquis en Neustrie who was the father ofRothildis's son-in-law (Hugues, later "le Grand" Duc des Francs)[267].Her death is dated to late 928/early 929 as Flodoard names"Rothildis…nuper defunctæ" when recording that "Heribertus et Hugocomites" (specifying that "Hugo" was "gener ipsius Rothildis")attacked "Bosonem Rodulfi regis frater" in 929 over the property ofRothildis[268]. This is also the only source so far identified fromwhich her marriage is deduced. The necrology of the abbey ofSaint-Germain-des-Prés records the death "XI Kal Apr" of "Rothildisabbatisse et monache filia regis magni Karoli"[269]. The necrology ofthe abbey of Saint-Denis records the death "XI Kal Mar" of "Rotildisabbatissa"[270]. These entries could refer alternatively toRothildis, daughter of Emperor Charlemagne, but it is more likely thatthe former entry would have referred to her father as "imperator" ifthat was the case. m ([890]) ROTGER [Roger] Comte, nephew of [HUGUESComte de Bourges], son of --- (-before I Nov 900). Comte du Maine897. 11. DROGO ([872/73]-[873/74], bur Abbaye de Saint-Amand,Flanders). The Chronico Floriacensi records the birth and death of"de Caroli Carolus…rex…Pippinus…simulque Drogo"[271]. Twin withPépin. 12. PEPIN ([872/73]-[873/74], bur Abbaye de Saint-Amand,Flanders). The Chronico Floriacensi records the birth and death of"de Caroli Carolus…rex…Pippinus…simulque Drogo"[272]. Twin withDrogo. 13. son (23 Mar 875-soon after). The Annales Bertiniani recordthat in 875 "Richildis uxor eius [=Karoli]" gave birth to a child"noctu ante quartam feriam paschæ" which died immediately after beingbaptised[273]. 14. CHARLES (10 Oct 876-877 before 7 Apr, bur église de l'abbayeroyale de Saint-Denis). The Annales Bertiniani record the death inearly 877 of "filius eius [=Karoli]…Karolus" and his burial atSaint-Denis[274]. [224] Annales S. Benigni Divionensis 824, MGH SS V, p. 39. [225] Thegani Vita Hludowici Imperatoris 35, MGH SS II, p. 597. [226] Settipani (1993), pp. 302-6. [227] Annales S. Benigni Divionensis 877, MGH SS V, p. 39. [228] 'Obits mémorables tirés de nécrologes luxembourgeois, rémois etmessins', Revue Mabillon VI (1910-1911), p. 272. [229] Annales Bertiniani II 842. [230] Nithard IV.6, p. 173. [231] Annales Bertiniani III 869. [232] Obituaires de Sens Tome I.1, Obituaire de Notre-Dame de Paris,p. 230. [233] Obituaires de Sens Tome I.1, Abbaye de Saint-Denis, p. 328. [234] Annales Bertiniani III 869. [235] D´Herbomez, A. (ed.) (1898) Cartulaire de l´abbaye de Gorze,Mettensia II (Paris), 87, p. 157. [236] 'Obits mémorables tirés de nécrologes luxembourgeois, rémois etmessins', Revue Mabillon VI (1910-1911), p. 272 (upper-case inoriginal). [237] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [238] Annales Bertiniani II 856. [239] Giles, J. A. (trans.) (2000) Asser, Annals of the Reign ofAlfred the Great (Cambridge, Ontario, In parentheses Publications)Part I. [240] Annales Bertiniani II 858. [241] Asser, p. 8. [242] Annales Bertiniani auct Hincmari Remensis 862 and 863, MGH SS I,pp. 456 and 462. [243] Flodoardus Remensis Historia Remensis Ecclesiæ III.12, MGH SSXXXVI, p. 218. [244] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [245] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [246] Annales Bertiniani III 866. [247] Chronico Floriacensi apud Chesnium Tomo 3, p. 355, cited in RHGF7, p. 272. [248] Annales Bertiniani III 862. [249] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [250] Folcuini Gesta Abbatum Lobiensium 14, MGH SS IV, p. 61. [251] Annales Bertiniani II 854. [252] Settipani (1993), p. 310. [253] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [254] Annales Bertiniani II 861. [255] Settipani (1993), p. 310. [256] Chronico Floriacensi apud Chesnium Tomo 3, p. 355, cited in RHGF7, p. 272. [257] Obituaires de Sens Tome III, Abbaye de Saint-Germain d´Auxerre,p. 274. [258] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [259] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [260] Tomelli, Historia Monasterii Hasnonensis 4, MGH SS XIV, p. 151. [261] Genealogiæ Comitum Flandriæ, Witgeri Genealogica Arnulfi ComitisMGH SS IX, p. 303. [262] Settipani (1993), p. 511 footnote 814. [263] Flodoardi Historia Remensis Ecclesiæ III , MGH SS XIII, p. 548. [264] RHGF X, p. 489. [265] 'Catalogue des actes des évêques du Mans jusqu'à la fin du XIIIsiècle', Revue historique et archéologique du Maine, t. 63 (1908) 2,pp. 32-63 and 144-185, quoted in Latouche Histoire du Maine, p. 15footnote 4. [266] Flodoard 922, MGH SS III, p. 370. [267] Settipani, p. 406. [268] Flodoard 929, MGH SS III, p. 378. [269] Obituaires de Sens Tome I.1, Abbaye de Saint-Germain-des-Prés,p. 254. [270] Obituaires de Sens Tome I.1, Abbaye de Saint-Denis, p. 312. [271] Epitaphium Drogonis et Pippini, Caroli Calvi filiorum, cited inRHGF 7, p. 224. [272] Epitaphium Drogonis et Pippini, Caroli Calvi filiorum, cited inRHGF 7, p. 224. [273] Annales Bertiniani III 875. [274] Annales Bertiniani III 877.

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