Adbelahide, Adele, Adela or Adelaide of Aquitaine (also known as Adelaide of

Poitiers Poitiers is a city on the river Clain in west-central France. It is a commune in France, commune, the capital of the Vienne (department), Vienne department and the historical center of Poitou, Poitou Province. In 2021, it had a population of 9 ...

; 945 or 952 – 1004), was the queen of France by marriage to King

Hugh Capet Hugh Capet (; ; 941 – 24 October 996) was the King of the Franks from 987 to 996. He is the founder of and first king from the House of Capet. The son of the powerful duke Hugh the Great and his wife Hedwige of Saxony, he was elected as t ...

( 939 – 14 October 996). Adelaide and Hugh were the founders of the Capetian dynasty of France, which ruled France until the 18th and 19th centuries. As queen, Adelaide had some extent of influence over her husband's governance of France. Adelaide is typically only briefly mentioned in connection to her husband, Hugh, and her son Robert II.

Life

Adelaide was the daughter of Duke William III of Aquitaine and Gerloc (Adele), daughter of Rollo of Normandy. On 29 May 987, after 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 (r ...

, the last

Carolingian The Carolingian dynasty ( ; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charles Martel and his grandson Charlemagne, descendants of the Arnulfing and Pippinid c ...

king of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, Hugh was elected the new king by an assembly of Frankish magnates at Senlis. The couple were proclaimed king and queen at

Senlis Senlis () is a commune in the northern French department of Oise, Hauts-de-France. The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived in Senlis, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. It is known for its Gothic cathedral and other ...

and blessed at

Noyon Noyon (; ; , Noviomagus of the Viromandui, Veromandui, then ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Oise Departments of France, department, Northern France. Geography Noyon lies on the river Oise (river), Oise, about northeast of Paris. The ...

on 1 June 987. They became the founders of the Capetian dynasty of France. Apparently, Hugh trusted in Adelaide's judgement and allowed her to take part in government. Hugh's recognition of Adelaide as ''socia et particeps nostril regni'', roughly translated to "associate and participator in our kingdom", demonstrates his apparent acclaim for Adelaide. Adelaide's son

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'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

's tutor Gerbert of Aurillac came into conflict in the late 990's with Arnulf, the archbishop of Reims. Gerbert took refuge with Otto III, the new

Holy Roman emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans (disambiguation), Emperor of the Romans (; ) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period (; ), was the ruler and h ...

, and Adelaide attempted to recall the former to Reims, but Gerbert reluctantly resisted this command in a letter dated to the spring of 997, citing concerns for his personal safety and the stability of the French kingdom had he returned to challenge Arnulf for the archbishopric.

Children

Adelaide and Hugh had at least three children that lived to adulthood: * Hedwig, Countess of Mons (or Hadevide, or Avoise) (c. 969–after 1013), wife of Reginar IV, Count of Mons * Robert II (972–1031), the future king of France. Crowned co-king in 987, in order to consolidate the new dynasty. * Gisèle, Countess of Ponthieu (c. 970–1002), wife of Hugh I, Count of Ponthieu.

Notes

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Adelaide Of Aquitaine 10th-century births 1004 deaths Queens consort of France Countesses of Paris House of Poitiers 10th-century French nobility 10th-century French women 11th-century French nobility 11th-century French women 11th-century French people French queen mothers