General Notes

Seal to Parents:  17 feb 1936
Ancestral File Number:<AFN> 9GCX-WW

King of France 893-922, known as "The Simple"

Gave his daughter, Gisella, to Rollo, the Viking, in order to stop the raids on the coast. Gave the coast to Rollo to protect. Rollo thus became the first Duke of Normandy.

SOURCES:
Charles III, King de France
(Andre Roux: Scrolls,191.)
(Rosamond, Frankish kingdom under Carolingians, Page 308.)
(Stuart, Royalty for Commoners, Page 130, Line 171-37.)
(Andre Castelot, Histoire de La France, Tome 1, Page 387).

Also Known As: Charles "Le Simple". Born: on 17 Sep 879 in Clermont, Oise, France, son of Louis II, King de France and Adelaide=Adelheid de Paris . (Or was his mother Judith. If he was born posthumously it would have been by the second wife)

Note - between 893 and 929: Charles III was the posthumous son of Louis "Le Begue", and was crowned King in 893 by Fouques, Archbishop of Reims, with the full support of Odon's brother Robert, Richard of Burgundy, William of the Auvergne and Herbert of Vermandois. Baldwin (Baudouin) of Flanders made his submission later. He was a rival of the effective King, the Count Eudes who, upon Odon's death in 898, recognized Charles' rights. With the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911), Charles gave Normandy to the Viking Chief Rollo making him first Duke of Normandy, and pacifying the Seine Vikings. That year, 911, Charles also became King of Lotharingia, which may have been related in part to the fact that his first wife, Frederuna who bore him 6 daughters, was Lotharingian. He revived the title Rex Francorum. In 919, when Charles fought the Magyars, none of the nobles except for Heriveus, the Archbishop of Reims sent him any troops for assistance. In 920, Robert led a revolt against Charles.

Some Lotharingian nobles, led by Gilbert (Gislebert) son of Ragnar Longneck, declared their independence from Charles' authority. Gilbert invoked the aid of the new ruler of the East Franks, a Saxon known as Henry "the Fowler" ("l'Oiseleur"). Charles, after quelling the resistance of the Lotharingian Count Ricoin made a treaty with Henry at Bonn in 921. They met on equal terms as Rex Francorum Occidentalium (Charles) and Rex Francorum Orientalium (Henry). Charles was deposed in 922 by Herbert, Count of Vermandois upon the death of his main supporter, Richard of Burgundy. Charles and his favorite Hagano fled to hide in Lotharingia. During his absence, Robert was elected King and crowned by Walter, Archbishop of Sens under the nose of Heriveus who was on his deathbed (he died 3 days later).  Charles met Robert in battle at Soissons on 15 June 923.  Robert was killed, but the forces led by his son Hugh and by Herbert of Vermandois defeated the King's army and Charles retreated. On 13 July 923, a new King Ralph, the eldest son of Richard The Justiciar of Burgundy was elected King and anointed in the Church of St. Medard at Soissons by Walter, Archbishop of Sens.

Married between 905 and 929: N. concubines; Charles Le Simple had several concubines throughout his adulthood.
Married in Apr 907: Frederune de Lotharingie, daughter of Dietrich, Count de Lotharingie ; Charles III Le Simple had 6 daughters with Frederune, his first wife.
Married in 917: Eadgifu=Ogive=Hadwige, Princess of England, daughter of Edward I, King of England and Eadgifu=Edgiva of Kent.

Died: on 7 Oct 929 in Peronne, Somme, France, at age 50 Charles was murdered while in captivity at the Tower of Peronne on 7-Oct-929. Charles III is buried at Saint Fursy.