General Notes

Louis IV, King de France

(Andre Roux: Scrolls, 113, 191.)
(Rosamond, Frankish kingdom under Carolingians.)
(Stuart, Royalty for Commoners, Page 130, Line 171-36.)
(Paul Auge, Nouveau Larousse Universel (13 a 21 Rue Montparnasse et Boulevard Raspail 114: Librairie Larousse, 1948), Tome II, Page 86.)
(Andre Castelot, Histoire de La France, Tome 1, Page 387).

Also Known As: Louis "d'Outremer".

Born: on 10 Sep 920 in Laon, Aisne, France, son of Charles III, King de France and Eadgifu=Ogive=Hadwige, Princess of England, Some sources claim King Louis IV was born in the year 921.

Note -between 936 and 954 in France: King:936-954. When Louis IV's father [Charles "Le Simple"] was captured [by Herbert de Vermandois in 923] , his mother Eadgifu took him to England for refuge. Louis IV came to the throne thanks to the support of Hughes, Count of Paris who had Louis IV recalled to France to succeed King Raoul (reign: 923-936). On 19 June 936, the new King, arrived in Boulogne, from England [hence the nickname "from overseas"] . He is annointed in Laon by the Archbishop of Reims, Artaud. Hughes "Le Grand" fancies himself the mentor of the King, but the King is rather independent of mind. Louis struggled against Hughes "Le Grand", Count of Paris, through most of his reign. In 936, the new German King, Otton I (who had just succeeded Henri I) tries to arbitrate their quarrels. In 938, King Louis "d'Outremer" makes an enemy out of Otton by marching into Lorraine. In 940, Otton I invades France and marches on Paris, with the help of his allies, Hughes "Le Grand" and Hughes de Vermandois. The Kingdom is split in two. While fighting the Normans in an attempt to recapture Normandy, Louis IV was made prisoner in 945 in Rouen. His liberty following that capture was short-lived as Louis IV fell into the hands of Hughes "Le Grand", now Duke de France, who kept him prisoner for one year until 946. An alliance with the German King Otto I allowed Louis IV to defeat Hughes (having had Hugues de Vermandois excommunicated in 948 at the Council of Ingelheim; The Church Council met again in September that year and excommunicated Hughes "Le Grand"), who made peace in 950 with Louis because he needed the support of the Church. Louis IV married Gerberge, Sister of the Emperor of the Occident Othon=Otto the Great, who bore him a son named Lothaire who eventually replaced Louis IV on the throne. Louis was fatally injured in a fall form his horse.

Married in 940: Gerberge de Saxe, daughter of Henri I, Duke de Saxe and Mathilde, Countess de Ringelheim ; Louis IV was Gerberge's second husband.

Died: on 10 Oct 954 in Reims, Champagne, France, at age 34 Louis IV is buried at Saint Remy.