When France Was Francia and Capetians Were Robertians (Capet, Part I)

A deep revelation came to me a week ago and this note is the result: The Capetians cannot be done in a single post. Indeed, they cannot be done in two nor three. I am dedicating this last post of June as well as the majority of July to the most wide-ranging dynasty in Europe even today: the Capetians. Otherwise, I honestly wouldn't do them the dynastic justice they deserve. That being said, most of you are wondering right now: "What the heck is a Capetian?" Or perhaps, "Why are these blokes so important?" And so I shall move on.

The Capetians are by far the oldest continually-reigning dynasty in Europe. Throughout their lifespan they have ruled France, Spain, Portugal, Navarre, Luxembourg, Burgundy, Jerusalem, Poland, and other countries. If you spread the family out from its actual founders, even Austria is considered a family heirloom. That is because unlike most other dynasties, Salic Law ensured their continuation rather than destroyed the dynasty. The kings procreated until they had a few sons, or at least tried to, and then nourished cadet lines rather than neglected them. It was a perfect system that had many flaws, but survives to this day.

The Frankish Realms of Gaul, c. 850

The dynasty has its ancient roots in Austrasia, the realm of the Eastern Franks centered on the Abbey of Lorsch near Worms, Germany. From there the family divided between the eastern branch, which became known as the Popponids (after their founder, Poppo) and then the Babenbergs (although there is no proven connection between the two), and the western branch which became known as the Robertians. The eastern branch stayed in Germany and Burgundy and eventually became the early dukes of Austria. Due to the speculative nature of their connection to the Capetians, they will not be discussed further in this series of notes. The Robertians migrated westward into France when the Carolingians took control and established themselves around the county of Paris.

The Robertians achieved an early claim-to-fame when one of their members married Emperor Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. The family then fell into relative obscurity until dynastic troubles in the Frankish Empire presented them with an opportunity to excel. Robert the Strong was the first notable member of the western branch and the true founder of the western Robertian dynasty. Robert was placed in charge of a region of France roughly equivalent to the whole of modern-day northern France (north of Aquitaine). He was placed there to help defeat the Viking menace that had been slowly taking control of Normandy. Through rebellions, threats, and blackmail, Robert managed to eke out a segment of France and Burgundy for himself and his posterity. Robert was eventually killed by the very Bretons whom he had supported during his rebellious years. His sons would carry on his business.

Robert I, king of the West Franks (922-923)

Eudes, his eldest son, succeeded him as count of Anjou. He was made count of Paris in the early 880s and Marquis of Neustria in 886. When Charles the Fat was removed from office in 888, the Frankish nobility elected Eudes to replace him, foregoing for the first time a member of the Carolingian dynasty. Between fighting the Normans and his rivals, who supported the Carolingian candidate to the throne, he had a tough reign. While he was able to bolster the Reconquest of Spain, he fell out of favor with the Eastern Frankish King and was eventually defeated and died in 898. The Western Frankish Empire returned to a Carolingian until Eudes' upstart brother, Robert, attempted to take the throne in 922. Robert was count of Paris and had succeeded his brother in his hereditary titles, Eudes having no legal heirs of his own. Robert established himself well with the Frankish nobility and, when the Carolingian king had disappointed the nobility in 922, Robert convinced them to run the king out of town. Robert took up the crown and ruled for all of one year. His opponent, Charles the Simple, built up an army and marched back into Gaul, killing Robert in battle. Unlike his brother, at least, Robert had some children who were able to press on the struggle against the Carolingian dynasty.

Raoul, king of the West Franks (923 – 936)

In an odd, although characteristic, event in 923, Charles the Simple was defeated by the army of the fallen Robert. Charles' cousin, Herbert II of Vermandois (who was one of Robert's sons-in-law), imprisoned the Frankish king and Robert's other son-in-law, Rudolph (or Raoul), succeeded him in West Francia with the support of the populous. While Raoul isn't technically a member of the Robertians , his claim and support all came from the family and supporters of them. Raoul reversed on Herbert after Charles' death and, with the support of another Robertian named Hugh the Great, waged war until Herbert submitted in 935. Raoul died the following year. Hugh the Great was Robert's son and, while he never became king, acted as de Facto king of West Francia during the twilight years of the Carolingian dynasty. Hugh fought and feuded with his Carolingian overlords even as he supported and reinforced them. Hugh managed to obtain vast tracts of land through various means, solidifying the Robertian claim to the throne after the last Carolingians death.

His son, Hugh Capet, would become the first official Capetian and helped transition the dynasty from the Dark Ages into the High Middle Ages. After his father died, Hugh Capet allied himself with the Holy Roman Empire to help control the politics of the realm. While he accepted the Carolingian, Lothair, as king he was himself the de Facto ruler of France. When Lothair died in 987 and his son, Louis V the Child, later that year, Hugh convinced the Archbishop of Reims to crown Hugh king in spite of surviving members of the Carolingian dynasty. Although he did this in order to legitimize his military authority against the Moors in Spain, it closely mirrors the coronation of Pepin the Short two centuries earlier which brought the Carolingians to the Frankish throne. The story of Hugh, and that of his immediate descendants, is the topic of next week's note.