General Notes

REFN: 3935AN
REFN: P3936
Capet, Robert II the Pious of France, King of France
Born: 27 MAR 972, Orléans, France
Acceded: 996
Died: 1031
Father: Capet, Hugh, King of F rance, b. ABT 938
Mother: , AdelaiDe of Poitou, b. ABT 945
Married 996 to , B ertha of Burgundy
Married 1003 to , Constance of Arles\Tolouse
Child 1: Capet , Hugh of France, King of France, b. 1007
Child 2: Capet, Henry I of France, K ing of France, b. APR 1008
Child 3: Capet, Robert I of Burgundy, Duke of Burgu ndy, b. 1011
Child 4: Capet, Adela (Alix) of France, Princess, b. 1009
Robert II the Pious (French: Robert II le Pieux) (March 27, 972 – July 2
0, 1031) was King of France from 996 to 1031. A member of the Capetian Dyn
asty, Robert II was born on March 27, 972 in Orléans, France, the son of K
ing Hugh Capet (938–996) and Adelaide of Aquitaine (952–1004).
In 987, Robert's father had the nobles crown him as successor at Orléa
ns on December 30th, thereby confirming the house of Capet as rulers of Fr
ance.
Robert, despite marital problems that saw him temporarily excommunicat
ed by Pope Gregory V, was a very devout Roman Catholic, hence the name Rob
ert the Pious. He was very musically inclined and was a composer, a choris
ter, and a poet, making his palace a place of religious seclusion, whe
re he conducted the matins and vespers in his royal robes. Part of Robert
's piety at the time, was because he did not tolerate heretics and harsh
ly punished them.
The kingdom Robert inherited was not large, and in an effort to increase h
is power, he vigorously pursued his claim to any of the feudal lands as th
ey became vacant which action usually resulted in war with a counter-claim
ant. In 1003, his invasion of Burgundy was thwarted and it would not be un
til 1016 that he was finally able to get the support of the Church a
nd be recognized as the Duke of Burgundy.
The pious King Robert II made few friends and many enemies, including h
is own sons. Robert's sons, Henry I of France and Robert I, Duke of Burgun
dy, also turned against their father, in a civil war for power and propert
y. King Robert's army was beaten and he retreated to Beaugency outside Par
is.
He died in the middle of the war with his sons on July 20, 1031 at Melu
n, France. He was interred with his third wife, Constance of Arles (973-Ju
ly 25, 1032) in Saint Denis Basilica. He was succeeded by son Henry.
Robert's descendants would go on to rule not only France, but England (thr
ough his granddaughter Matilda of Flanders' marriage to William the Conque
ror), Portugal, Castile, and Leon.
Marriages
Robert II married:
c. 989, 1) Susanne (Rosala), Princess of Italy (c.945 - January 26, 1003
). Widow of Count Arnulf II of Flanders, by whom she had issue. She was mu
ch older than Robert, and the marriage was arranged by his father. Robe
rt divorced her a year later.
c. 996, 2) Bertha, Princess of Burgundy (952-1035). Widow of Count Theoba
ld II of Blois. Because she was his cousin, Pope Gregory V would not sanct
ion the marriage and Robert was excommunicated. However, after long negoti
ations with the new Pope Silvester II the marriage was annulled.
In 1001, 3) Constance of Arles (973-July 25, 1034) Daughter of a Willi
am I of Provence, an intriguing and ambitious woman, who made life miserab
le for her husband by encouraging her sons to revolt against their fathe
r. She was the mother of his children:
Children
one child by Bertha (999-999)
Advisa, Countess of Auxerre, (c.1003-after 1063), married Count Rena
ud I of Nevers. Their children inherited the counties of Nevers and Auxerr
e.
Hugh Magnus, or Hugh "The Great" co-king (1007-September 17, 1025); Hu
gh is said to have been married (or betrothed) before his death to Halwi
sa (Hawisa?) or Elisabeth d'Avoye, dau of one Henri l'Oiseteur, who marri
ed 2ndly Hamon, Count of Corbeil. Elisabeth's second husband Hamon [1] w
as younger brother of William, Count of Corbeil (possibly also known