Hedwige of Saxony (also Hedwig, Hadwig) (c. 910 – May 10, 965) was a member of the Ottonian dynasty and a descendant of Charlemagne. She was married to Hugh the Great. Their son, Hugh Capet was the founder of the Capetian dynasty.

Life

Hedwig was a younger daughter of Henry I the Fowler, and his second wife Matilda of Ringelheim. Her siblings were Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor; Henry I, Duke of Bavaria; Gerberga of Saxony; and Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne.

After her brother Otto I came to power, an alliance and marriage was arranged with Hugh the Great. Hedwig was Hugh's third wife. They married c.936/8. With Hugh, Hedwig had the following children:

• Hugh Capet, who was crowned King of France in 987.
• Emma (945-968), who married Richard I, Duke of Normandy in 960.
• Otto, Duke of Burgundy (945-965)
• Henry I, Duke of Burgundy (948-1002)

When Hedwig's husband died in 956, her son Hugh Capet was still underage. Although Hugh inherited his father's estates, but did not rule independently.^[1] Along with her brother, Bruno, Hedwig acted as Hugh's regent until he came of age.^[2]

References

• W. Glocker, Die Verwandten der Ottonen und ihre Bedeutung in der Politik. Studien zur Familienpolitik und zur Genealogie des sächsischen Kaiserhauses(1989).
• J. Michelet, History of France, Vol. I, trans. G. H. Smith (New York: D. Appleton, 1882).
• P. Riché, The Carolingians; A Family Who Forged Europe, trans. Michael Idomir Allen (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993).

External links

• Medieval Lands Project
• Hadwig von Sachsen (in German)

Notes