Louis IV of France

• General Notes
  • Louis IV of France
    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    
    Louis IV (10 September 920 - 30 September 954), called d'Outremer or Transmarinus (both meaning "from overseas"), reigned as King of Western Francia from 936 to 954. He was a member of the Carolingian dynasty, the son of Charles III and Eadgifu of England, a daughter of King Edward the Elder.
    
    Early years across the sea
    
    He was only two years old when his father was deposed by the nobles, who set up Robert I in his place. When he was only three years old, Robert died and was replaced by Rudolph, duke of Burgundy. Rudolph's ally, a Carolingian himself, Count Herbert II of Vermandois, took Charles captive by treachery and the young Louis's mother took the boy "over the sea" to the safety of England, hence his nickname.
    Return to France
    
    Charles died in 929, but Rudolph ruled on until 936, when Louis was summoned back to France unanimously by the nobles, especially Hugh the Great, who had probably organised his return to prevent Herbert II, or Rudolph's brother Hugh the Black, taking the throne. He was crowned king at Laon by Artald, archbishop of Rheims, on Sunday 19 June 936. The chronicler Flodoard records the events as follows:
    Brittones a transmarinis regionibus, Alstani regis praesidio, revertentes terram suam repetunt. Hugo comes trans mare mittit pro accersiendo ad apicem regni suscipiendum Ludowico, Karoli filio, quem rex Alstanus avunculus ipsius, accepto prius jurejurando a Francorum legatis, in Franciam cum quibusdam episcopis et aliis fidelibus suis dirigit, cui Hugo et cetero Francorum proceres obviam profecti, mox navim egresso, in ipsis littoreis harenis apud Bononiam, sese committunt, ut erant utrinque depactum. Indeque ab ipsis Laudunum deductus ac regali benedictione didatus ungitur atque coronatur a domno Artoldo archiepiscopo, praesentibus regni principibus cum episcopis xx et amplius.[1]     "The Bretons, returning from the lands across the sea with the support of King Athelstan, came back to their country. Duke Hugh sent across the sea to summon Louis, son of Charles, to be received as king, and King Athelstan, his uncle, first taking oaths from the legates of the Franks, sent him to the Frankish kingdom with some of his bishops, and other followers. Hugh and the other nobles of the Franks went to meet him and committed themselves to him[;] immediately he disembarked on the sands of Boulogne, as had been agreed on both sides. From there he was conducted by them to Laon, and, endowed with the royal benediction, he was anointed and crowned by the lord Archbishop Artold, in the presence of the chief men of his kingdom, with 20 bishops."[2]
    
    Effectively, his sovereignty was limited to the town of Laon and to some places in the north of France, Louis displayed a keenness beyond his years in obtaining the recognition of his authority by his feuding nobles. Nonetheless, his reign was filled with conflict; in particular with Hugh the Great, count of Paris.
    
    Louis IV fell from his horse and died 10 September 954, at Rheims, in the Marne, and is interred there at Saint Rémi Basilica.
    Ancestry
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    v • d • e
    Ancestors of Louis IV of France
    
    16. Louis the Pious
    
    8. Charles the Bald
    
    17. Judith of Bavaria
    
    4. Louis the Stammerer
    
    18. Odo I, Count of Orléans
    
    9. Ermentrude of Orléans
    
    19. Engeltrude of Paris
    
    2. Charles the Simple
    
    20. Wulfhard von Argengau
    
    10. Adalhard of Paris
    
    21. Susanna of Paris
    
    5. Adelaide of Paris
    
    1. Louis IV of France
    
    24. Æthelwulf of Wessex
    
    12. Alfred the Great
    
    25. Osburga of Isle of Wight
    
    6. Edward the Elder
    
    26. Æthelred Mucil
    
    13. Ealhswith of Mercia
    
    27. Eadburga of Mercia
    
    3. Eadgifu of England
    
    14. Æthelhelm of Wiltshire
    
    7. Ælfflæd
    
    30. Æthelwulf of Mercia
    
    15. Æthelglyth of Mercia
    
    Marriage and children
    
    In 939, Louis became involved in a struggle with the Emperor Otto the Great on the question of Lorraine, but then married Otto's sister Gerberga of Saxony (914 - 5 May 984). They were parents to eight children:
    
    * Lothair of France (941-986)
    * Mathilde b. about 943; married Conrad of Burgundy
    * Hildegarde b. about 944
    * Carloman b. about 945
    * Louis b. about 948
    * Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine (953-993)
    * Alberade b. before 953
    * Henri b. about 953