The Robertians (sometimes called the Robertines in modern scholarship) are the proposed
Frankish family which was ancestral to the
Capetian dynasty, and thus to the royal families of France and of many other countries. The Capetians appear first in the records as powerful nobles serving under the
Carolingian dynasty
The Carolingian dynasty (; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charlemagne, grandson of mayor Charles Martel and a descendant of the Arnulfing and Pi ...
of
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...
in
West Francia
In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from ab ...
, which later became
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
. As their power increased, they came into conflict with the older royal family and attained the crown several times before the eventual start of the continuous rule of the descendants of
Hugh Capet (ruled 987–996).
Hugh's paternal ancestral family, the Robertians, appear in documents that can trace them back to his great-grandfather
Robert the Strong (d. 866). His origins remain unclear, but medieval records hint at an origin in
East Francia
East Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the East Franks () was a successor state of Charlemagne's empire ruled by the Carolingian dynasty until 911. It was created through the Treaty of Verdun (843) which divided the former empire int ...
, in present-day
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
, an area then still also ruled by the Carolingians. In particular,
Regino of Prüm (died 915 CE) states that Robert the Strong's son Odo was said to be a relative (''nepos'') of a Count Meingaud, count of an area near
Worms, who died in 892, and there are indications that Maingaud's family used the names Robert and Odo.
Modern proposals about their ancestry further back are based on the idea that there was one family which frequently named its sons Robert, including
Robert III of Worms (800–834),
Robert the Strong (d. 866), and
Robert I of France (866–923). For example, one proposed ancestor is
Robert of Hesbaye (c. 800), about whom there are almost no records.
The Robertian family figured prominently amongst the
Carolingian nobility and married into this royal family. Eventually, the Robertians themselves produced Frankish kings such as the brothers
Odo (reigned 888–898) and
Robert I Robert I may refer to:
*Robert I, Duke of Neustria (697–748)
* Robert I of France (866–923), King of France, 922–923, rebelled against Charles the Simple
* Rollo, Duke of Normandy (c. 846 – c. 930; reigned 911–927)
* Robert I Archbishop o ...
(r. 922–923), then
Hugh Capet (r. 987–996), who ruled from his seat in Paris as the first Capetian king of France.
Although
Philip II Augustus (r. 1180–1223) was officially the last monarch of
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
with the title "King of the Franks" (''rex Francorum'') and the first to style himself "King of France" (''roi de France''), in (systematic application of)
historiography
Historiography is the study of the methods of historians in developing history as an academic discipline, and by extension is any body of historical work on a particular subject. The historiography of a specific topic covers how historians h ...
, Hugh Capet holds this distinction. He founded the
Capetians, the royal dynasty that ruled France until the revolution of the
Second French Republic in 1848save during the interregnum of the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
and
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fre ...
. Members of the family still reign in Europe today; both King
Felipe VI
Felipe VI (;,
* eu, Felipe VI.a,
* ca, Felip VI,
* gl, Filipe VI, . Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. He is the son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, an ...
of Spain and Grand Duke
Henri
Henri is an Estonian, Finnish, French, German and Luxembourgish form of the masculine given name Henry.
People with this given name
; French noblemen
:'' See the ' List of rulers named Henry' for Kings of France named Henri.''
* Henri I de Mon ...
of
Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
descend from this family through the
Bourbon cadet branch of the dynasty.
Origin
The oldest known Robertians probably originated in the county of
Hesbaye, around
Tongeren
Tongeren (; french: Tongres ; german: Tongern ; li, Tóngere ) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg, in the southeastern corner of the Flemish region of Belgium. Tongeren is the oldest town in Belgium, as the ...
in modern-day
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
. The first certain ancestor is
Robert the Strong count of
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
,
probably the son of Robert III of Worms, grandson of Robert of Hesbaye, and nephew of
Ermengarde of Hesbaye, who was the daughter of
Ingram, and wife of
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqu ...
. Other related family includes
Cancor, founder of the
Lorsch Abbey, his sister Landrada and her son
Saint Chrodogang, archbishop of
Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand ...
.
History
Robert the Strong
The sons of Robert the Strong were
Odo and
Robert
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
, who were both king of
Western Francia
In medieval history, West Francia ( Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from ab ...
and ruled during the
Carolingian era. His daughter Richildis married a count of
Troyes. The family became
Counts of Paris under Odo and "Dukes of the Franks" under Robert, possessing large parts of the ancient
Neustria. Although quarrels continued between Robert's son
Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great (16 June 956) was the duke of the Franks and count of Paris.
Biography
Hugh was the son of King Robert I of France and Béatrice of Vermandois.Detlev Schwennicke, '' Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der E ...
and
Louis IV of France, they were mended upon the ascension of
Lothair I of France (954–986). Lothair greatly expanded the Robertian dominions when he granted Hugh
Aquitaine as well as much of
Burgundy,
both rich and influential territories, arguably two of the richest in France.
The Carolingian dynasty ceased to rule France upon the death of
Louis V Louis V may refer to:
* Louis V of France (967–987)
* Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor and V of Germany (1282–1347)
* Louis V, Duke of Bavaria (1315–1361)
* Louis V, Elector Palatine (ruled 1508–1544)
* Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt L ...
(d. 987). After the death of Louis, the son of Hugh the Great,
Hugh Capet was chosen as king of the Franks, nominally the last ruler of
West Francia
In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from ab ...
. Given the resurgence of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
From the accession of Otto I in 962 unt ...
title and dignities in the
West Francia
In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from ab ...
n kingdom, Europe was later believed to have entered a new age, so Hugh came to be known in historiography as the first king of
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, as western civilization was perceived to have entered the
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended ...
period. Hugh was crowned at
Noyon on July 3, 987 with the full support of
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans ( la, Imperator Romanorum, german: Kaiser der Römer) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period ( la, Imperat ...
Otto III. With Hugh's coronation, a new era began for France, and his descendants came to be named, after him, the
Capetians. They ruled France as the Capetians,
Valois, and
Bourbons
The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spani ...
until the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
.
They returned after 1815 and ruled until
Louis Philippe was deposed in 1848.
However, they have continued to rule
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
, with two republican interruptions, through the Bourbon Dynasty right down to the current king
Felipe VI
Felipe VI (;,
* eu, Felipe VI.a,
* ca, Felip VI,
* gl, Filipe VI, . Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. He is the son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, an ...
.
Family branches
The first two generations are speculative.
*
Robert I, Count of Hesbaye Robert I or Rupert (697 – 758), was a count in the Hesbaye region and Duke of Neustria. His father's name is known to be Lambert. He was a count palatine under Childeric III.
Robert married Williswinda, daughter of Adalhelm, Grundherr im Wormsg ...
(697-748), Count of Hesbaye and Duke of Neustria, married Williswinda of Worms
**
Cancor (d. 771), founder of
Lorsch Abbey
***Heimrich (d. 795), count in the
Lahngau
****
Poppo of Grapfeld (d. 839–41), ancestor of the Frankish
House of Babenberg
**Landrada, married
Sigramnus, Count of Hesbaye Sigramnus (Sigrand), was the Count of Hesbaye. Sigramnus became Count of Hesbaye by virtue of his marriage to the daughter of Lambert, Count of Hesbaye. The dates of his rule are unknown but are believed to be between that of Lambert’s son and ...
***
Saint Chrodogang (d. 766), Archbishop of Metz, Abbot of Lorsch Abbey
***Sigram of Hesbaye
****
Ingerman, Count of Hesbaye
Ingerman (Ingram, Enguerrand) (c. 750-818), was a Frankish noble and Count of Hesbaye, son of Sigram of Hesbaye and grandson of Sigramnus of Hesbaye.
Ingerman married Rotrude, of unknown parentage. Ingerman and Rotrude had one daughter:
* Ermen ...
(750-818)
*****
Ermengarde of Hesbaye (778-818), wife of Emperor
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqu ...
**
Thuringbert, Count of Hesbaye (735-770)
***
Robert II, Count of Hesbaye (770–807)
****
Robert III of Worms (800–834)
*****
Robert the Strong (830–866)
******
Odo of Paris (857-898), king of
West Francia
In medieval history, West Francia (Medieval Latin: ) or the Kingdom of the West Franks () refers to the western part of the Frankish Empire established by Charlemagne. It represents the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France, lasting from ab ...
from 888, married
Théodrate of Troyes
*******Raoul
*******Arnulf
*******Guy
******Richildis, or Regilindis, married to William I of Périgueux, son of Count
Wulgrin I of Angoulême
Wulgrin (or Vulgrin, Woulgrin) I (c. 830 – 3 May 886) was the Count of Angoulême, Périgueux, and possibly Saintonge from 866 to his death. His parents were Vulfard (Wulfard), Count of Flavigny, and Suzanne, who was a daughter of Bego I, Coun ...
******
Robert
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory ...
(866–923), king of West Francia from 922, second marriage to
Béatrice of Vermandois
*******
Emma (894–935), married
Rudolph of Burgundy
*******Adela, married
Herbert II, Count of Vermandois
*******
Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great (16 June 956) was the duke of the Franks and count of Paris.
Biography
Hugh was the son of King Robert I of France and Béatrice of Vermandois.Detlev Schwennicke, '' Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der E ...
(898–956), married for the 3rd time to
Hedwige of Saxony, daughter of German king
Henry the Fowler
********Béatrice (c.938–987), married
Frederick of Bar
********
Hugh Capet (c.939–996), ancestor of the
Capetian dynasty
********
Emma of Paris, Duchess of Normandy
Emma of Paris (943 – 19 March 968), was a duchess consort of Normandy, married to Richard I, Duke of Normandy. She was the daughter of Count Hugh the Great of Paris and Hedwige of Saxony and sister of Hugh Capet, king of France.
Emma was bet ...
(c.943–968), married
Richard I, Duke of Normandy
********
Otto of Paris (c.944–965),
Duke of Burgundy from 956
********
Odo-Henry (c.946–1002), Duke of Burgundy from 965
********Herbert (d. 996), Bishop of
Auxerre
References
Sources
*
Pierre Riché. ''The Carolingians, a Family who Forged Europe''. University of Pennsylvania Press.
*
Christian Settipani and Patrick van Kerrebrouck. ''La Préhistoire des Capetiens, Première Partie: Mérovingiens, Carolingiens et Robertiens''.
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