Carolingian Dynasty

Carolingian Empire

Map of Francia

The Carolingian Dynasty (751-887) was a family of Frankish nobles who ruled Francia and its successor kingdoms in Western and Central Europe during the Early Middle Ages. The dynasty expanded from Francia as far as modern Italy, Spain, and Hungary, and ruled the eponymous Carolingian Empire (800-887), the largest European political entity to exist until the 19th century.

The Carolingian name is derived from the dynasty’s common usage of the name Charles and refers to Charles Martel (688-741), remembered today for his leadership in repelling the expansion of the Moors into Gaul, and to Charlemagne, King of the Franks  (r. 768-814) and Holy Roman Emperor (r. 800-814). Charlemagne’s coronation in 800 as Emperor of the Romans established the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire, although this terminology is anachronistic and was not standardized until the 12th century.

The Carolingian kings and emperors dominated the politics of Central Europe in their time but faced constant challenges to their rule. Despite its powerful height, the Carolingian Dynasty succumbed to succession disputes, civil war, and territorial partitions in the mid-9th century. The partitions established the political basis for the Holy Roman Empire as well as modern France, Germany, and Italy. The Carolingian Dynasty’s territorial expansion, policies, and relationship with the medieval church are often viewed as foundational in the development of modern Europe. 
(www.worldhistory.org/Carolingian_Dynasty/)

Map of Carolingian Empire in the time of Charlemagne

Charles Martel (686-741) 

Charles Martel was born in Herstal, Frankia (Belgium) in 686. His father, Pepin II of Herstal, was Mayor of Austrasia - the north eastern kingdom of Frankia. As Charles was illegitimate, he initially did not inherit land when his father died. In fact he was imprisoned to prevent him from making a claim. A group of nobles helped Charles to escape and he eventually gained control as Mayor of not only Austrasia but also of Neustria. 

 

Much of Charles' rule was spent fighting against Islamic armies, firstly in Aquitaine which was invaded by an Islamic army in 732. Charles with his army and cavalry then fought and won many other battles against invading forces. His military prowess earned him the nickname, The Hammer.

Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours

There was generally peace for the last four years of Charles' life. He was de facto leader of the Franks from 737 until he died  on 22 October 741.

 

Charles Martel married Rotrude of Treves and they had two sons and three daughters. He then married Swanhild and they had one son. There were also a number of illegitimate children. Charles divided his realm between his two older sons, Carloman and Pepin the Younger (Pepin III).

 

Pepin III 

Between 800 and 888 the Carolingian Empire was dominated by the Franks in western and central Europe. The Carolingian Dynasty had ruled as kings of the Franks since 751 and as kings of the Lombards in Italy from 774.  In 800, the Frankish king Charlemagne was crowned emperor in Rome by Pope Leo III in order to transfer the Roman Empire from the Byzantine Empire in eastern Europe to western Europe. 

https://europeanroyalhistory.wordpress.com/tag/pepin-iii-the-short/

Pepin III nicknamed the Short (c. 714 – September 24, 768), also called the Younger was King of the Franks from 751 until his death in 768 was the first Carolingian to become king. He was the son of Charles Martel and Rotrude of Treves. Pepin and his brother, Carloman, received an ecclesiastical education from the monks of St. Denis. Pepin succeeded his father as the Mayor of the Palace in 741 and ruled Francia jointly with his elder brother Carloman. Pepin ruled in Neustria, Burgundy, and Provence, while his older brother Carloman ruled Austrasia, Alemannia, and Thuringia.

 

The two brothers suppressed revolts led by the Bavarians, Aquitanians, Saxons, and the Alemanni (German tribes) during the early years of their reign. In 743 they chose Childeric III, the last Merovingian monarch, as figurehead King of the Franks. 

 

In 747  Carloman entered a monastery in Montecassino, Italy and Pepin became the sole ruler of Francia with the backing of Pope Zacharias. Between 749 and 750 Pepin consolidated his authority and received . oaths of allegiance from his many vassals. In 751 he was also declared king of the Franks.

 

In October 753 when the Lombard army that was threatening Rome, the Pope travelled to Frankia to seek assistance from the Franks. In 755 Pepin led an army into Italy which eventually defeated the Lombards, restoring the authority of the Pope to the territory.

 

Other military campaigns included removing the Saracens from Narbonne in 759 and after eight years of warfare, Pepin won full control over Aquileia in Italy. Successful military campaigns in 753 and 758 led to the conquest of Saxony and quelled an uprising in Bavaria. Pepin III therefore managed to complete the military tasks planned by his father, Charles Martel.

 

Pepin’s reign was also a time for reform of the church establishing order within the previously disorganized Frankish church. Frankish prelates pledged obedience to the Pope, priests wore uniform attire, and the rules of Saint Benedict were adopted, outlining the standards for leading a Christian life.

 

Pepin’s brother, Bishop Remigius, brought priests from Rome to teach the Frankish clergy the Roman style of singing in church. The importance of monasteries and the church increased.

 

Pepin also restructured the court and introduced the position of  a chamberlain to guard the treasury as well as monitor income from fines, customs, and taxes. Pepin instigated monetary reform. He also promoted literacy, culture, and art leading to what became known as the Carolingian Renaissance.

 

In 748 Pepin III married Berthe (Berthrada) of Laon and they had seven children (four of them died young).

Pepin III died in 768 at the age of 54 and his body was laid to rest in Saint-Denis. Pepin divided the kingdom between his sons Charlemagne and Carloman. Charlemagne would eventually become the Holy Roman Emperor.

 

Pepin the Short: the first Carolingian King - Culture Frontier

Kingdom of East Francia - European Royal History  

Charlemagne (748-814)

Charlemagne (747-814)

Charlemagne and His Guards - plaza in front of Notre-Dame, Paris 

Charlemagne had many titles. He was King of the Franks (r. 768-814), King of the Franks and Lombards (r. 774-814), Holy Roman Emperor (r. 800-814) and was one most influential figures in Europe in the Middle Ages. He was known for his military successes which united most of Western Europe, his educational and ecclesiastical reforms, and his policies which led to the development of future European nations.

The date of Charlemagne's birth is uncertain. He may have been born on 2 April 747 (though some sources say 742) at Aachen (in what is now Germany). Charlemagne was the son of Pepin III who was King of the Franks and Berthe of Laon. Pepin III was mayor of the palace which meant that he had the powerful position of effectively being the ruler of the Franks. When Pepin III died in 768 his land was divided between his sons Charlemagne and Carloman. 

When Carloman died in 771 Charlemagne took over his part of the kingdom, becoming the sole ruler of the Franks. He was known as a warrior king and was prepared to enter battles to defend and extend his territory. In 773 he led an army against the Lombards as requested by Pope Adrian I. The Lombards were defeated in 774 and Charlemagne took over northern Ital and added King of the Lombards to his titles.

Over the years many battles were fought against countries such as Spain, Bavaria and the Saracens in Italy with success in Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands. Battles were also against the Avars and the Slavs collecting great riches along the way. Charlemagne also fought the Saxons hoping to incorporate Saxon land into Frankish rule. He also planned to convert the Saxons to Christianity. He brought in laws making paganism a capital offence and many people were killed. Charlemagne's aim to overcome the Saxons was finally achieved in 804 - the battles had lasted for 32 years though there had been periods of peace. However peace was short lived as demonstrated by Viking invasions in the years after the death of Charlemagne.

Charlemagne was a religious man who supported Pope Leo III against the Roman persecution. Once back in power, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day 800. 

As well as being a warrior Charlemagne was a diplomat, using diplomacy to maintain the status of his kingdom and borders  and working to make his neighbours allies.

Education was important and he founded a royal library, a palace school and scriptorium at Aachen. In 789 Charlemagne declared that all monasteries should have a school for the education of boys. A new writing system made manuscripts easier to read and copy. His work was part of the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of revival in writing, art and learning in Western Europe. This revival was strong in the period 780 to 900. Numerous monasteries with scriptoria and schools were established at various royal courts - a precursor to the Renaissance, which began in 14th century Italy. He persuaded many eminent scholars to come to his court to establish a new library of Christian and classical works. Charlemagne's intent was to establish a replacement for the Western Roman Empire and encourage learning. Literature, art and architecture were important features of Charlemagne's reign. He was also interested in the culture of other countries.

Coin showing portrait of Charlemagne

Like a number of other leaders at the time, Charlemagne also reorganised the monetary systems in the lands that he ruled including introducing the half denier. This move encouraged rulers in other kingdoms to do the same. Charlemagne introduced administrative reforms throughout the lands he controlled by establishing key representatives in each region and holding a general assembly each year at his court at Aachen. He standardised systems of weights, measures and customs dues, which helped improve commerce and initiated important legal reforms.

Charlemagne also established relationships with leaders of other countries including King Offa of Mercia, England. Both countries wanted to improve trade relationships and also form alliances in order to protect their lands from Viking invasions from across the sea.

Some leaders at the time referred to Charlemagne as 'The Father of Modern Europe'.

Charlemagne died of natural causes in Aachen on 28 January 814. Charlemagne was buried in the cathedral that he had built in Aachen, which the French called Aix-la-Chapelle.

Charlemagne is known to have had four wives during his life -  Desiderata from 770 to 771, Hildegarde to 783, Fastrada to 794 and Liutgard until 800. He also had many concubines during his life. It is believed that he probably had up to 20 children (the records vary but it was a lot) including nine children with Hildegarde and two children with Fastrada. He had four legitimate sons but only Louis (the Pious) was alive to succeed him when he died.

Charlemagne - World History Encyclopedia

Charlemagne - Britannica

So you are related to Charlemagne? - The Guardian 24 May 2015  

Sons of Charlemagne - Louis the Pious (778-840) and Pepin of Italy (773-810)

 Louis I (778-840)

Louis was born on 16 April 778 in France and died on 20 June 840 in what is now Germany. He was the son of Charlemagne (Charles I of the Franks) and Hildegarde of Swabia (a region in south west Germany).

Louis had three brothers - Charles the Younger who died in 811, Pepin (Pippen) of Italy who died in 810 and Lothar, Louis' twin brother who died young. Charlemagne had appointed Louis as King Of Aquitaine in 781 when Louis was only three. Louis was made co-ruler of his father's empire in 813 when he was a 35-year-old politician and military commander. When Charlemagne died in 814 Louis I had experienced many years learning to be a leader.

Louis inherited a vast kingdom stretching from the modern-day cities of Hamburg in Germany, in the north to Barcelona in Spain, 900 miles south, and from Nantes in France in the west to Osnabrück in Germany, 720 miles east. This Frankish empire was actually an ethnic, linguistic, and cultural patchwork of Franks, Saxons, Bretons, Aquitanians, Spaniards, Lombards, Jews, Byzantines, Romans, Bavarians Avars, Slavs, plus other peoples. It is no wonder that ruling such a diverse group of people was a challenge.

Louis had his own palaces, chancery, treasury, and mints. As well as commanding military expeditions he supervised the Frankish counts, abbots, and vassals that were sent to Aquitaine.

Being leader of so many kingdoms and territories often caused friction and rebellion. The many ethnic and linguistic groups along the borders of Louis' large empire required continual attention including the Slovenians who proved troublesome in the southeast. In the northeast the threat from the Danes was averted when King Harald was baptized as a Christian with Louis as his godfather. In the west Louis campaigned in Brittany and established his authority. In Gascony and the lands on the Pyrenees borders, Louis removed leaders from their positions when they ceased to support him.

But some of Louis' greatest challenges were with his family.  On June 30, 833, Louis met Lothar at the so-called “Field of Lies” near Colmar in Alsace (now in France) in order to settle their differences. Instead Louis faced a coalition of his three eldest sons, their supporters, and Pope Gregory IV demanding that Louis should abdicate. Conflict between the brothers and supporters of Louis continued until 834 when he was freed, reunited with his wife and youngest son and once again became Emperor.

Louis re-established his political network from 835 including presiding at ceremonies and ritual activities. Hunting was his favourite pastime. Louis also led a number of successful military campaigns.

When Louis died in 840 he was buried in the monastery of Saint-Arnulf in Metz  (now in France) beside his mother, Hildegard, and his sisters, Rotrud and Hildegard.  

Pepin of Italy (773-810)

Pepin, also known as Pippin, was a king who ruled Italy from 781 until his death in 810. When he was born in 777 his name was Carloman. His father was Emperor Charlemagne and his mother was Queen Hildegard. When he was baptized in 781, Carloman was renamed Pepin and crowned king of the Lombards, a territory in part of Italy his father had conquered. He was four years old and was sent to Lombardy to live. Although Pepin was king in his own right his father retained a strong interest in Italy.

By 786 Pepin became involved in military campaigns joining his father in a campaign in Bavaria. In 796 he led a campaign against the Avar Khaganate in Central and eastern Europe and had another successful campaign in Venice in 810. 

In 806 Charlemagne had decided how his kingdom was to be divided between his sons. Pepin retained confirmed Italy and also gained most of Bavaria and Alamannia.

However, Charlemagne's plans for succession did not happen as he expected. Pepin died on July 8, 810. His sister Rotrude, his aunt Gisela, Abbess of Chelles, his half-brother Pepin, and his brother Charles also died between 810 and 811, probably of an epidemic that had spread from cattle in 810. 

Charlemagne made Pepin's son, Bernard, the ruler of Italy while his only surviving son, Louis, became the heir to the rest of the empire. Louis and Bernard were officially named Charlemagne's heirs in September 813 and they took over after Charlemagne's death in 814. 

Unfortunately there was a dispute between Bernard and his uncle, Louis. Although Bernard appears to have a reasonable relationship with his uncle he did not get along with his cousin, Lothair. Although Bernard remained King of Italy he was subordinate to Lothair. Rumours spread that Bernard planned to rule Italy independently much to the displeasure of Louis who had Bernard and his main supporters arrested. As a punishment Louis ordered that his nephew should be made blind. However this punishment also resulted in Bernard's death. Louis regretted this extreme action resulting in the death of his nephew.

Bernard died on 17 April 1818. His son, another Pepin, had been born in 817.

Bernard's male descendants continued to rule as counts of Vermandois in Italy until the eleventh century. This time frame was longer than any other male descendants of Charlemagne and it is this line of descendants that connected Charlemagne to William the Conqueror. 

Charles the Bald (823 -867)

 Charles II of France 

Charles the Bald (born 13 June 823 – died 6 October 877) was the King of West Francia (territory now primarily France) from 843, after the Treaty of Verdun, until 877. He also became the King of Italy and the Emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 875 to 877. Charles was the youngest son of Emperor Louis the Pious and his second wife, Judith of Bavaria. His older brothers, Lothair, Pepin and Louis the German, had already been given land by their father and little remained for Charles.

It is not known why the Bald was Charles' nick name. One suggestion is that it was a joke as he had lots of hair.  Another possibility is that it referred to him initially not having land.

In 842 Charles married Ermentrude, the daughter of Odo I, Count of Orléans. They had ten children including Judith of Flanders (843-870) and Louis (846-879). Ermentrude died in 869. In 870, Charles married Richilde of Provence and they had another five children. 

In 838 Charles inherited the kingdom of Aquitaine after the death of his brother, Pepin. When Emperor Louis the Pious died in 840, a war broke out among his sons. Charles teamed up with his brother Louis  against their older brother, Emperor Lothair, who they defeated at the Battle of Fontenoy-en-Puisaye on 25 June 841. The following year, Charles and Louis made their alliance stronger with the Oaths of Strasbourg. This war ended with the Treaty of Verdun in August 843.

The Treaty of Verdun split the Carolingian Empire into three parts. Charles the Bald received the western part, called the Kingdom of the West Franks. Louis received the eastern part, which became known as East Francia, now Germany. Lothair I kept the title of Emperor and the Kingdom of Italy. He also ruled the central lands, from Flanders, to the Rhineland and Burgundy known as Middle Francia. Until 855 when Lothair died, the brothers sometimes met to jointly govern their father's former territories.

In 858, Louis invaded Charles's kingdom and Charles fled to Burgundy where he was saved by the support of bishops and his mother's family. In 869, Charles tried to take over the lands of his nephew, Lothair II, who had died. Although Charles was crowned King of Lotharingia at Metz, he ended up dividing the kingdom with his brother, Louis, in 870 after the Treaty of Mersen.

Back in West Francia political uprisings occurred, particularly in Aquitaine and Brittany. The threat of Viking invasions was also present. They often attacked the northern sections of his country and also were known to sail along the Seine and Loire rivers. In Charles the Bald strengthened his army by adding cavalry. He also had fortified bridges built across the rivers to deter the progress of Vikings. In 885 and 886 two of the bridges in Paris helped save the city from Viking invasion.

The crown worn by Charles the Bald may have looked like this

In 875 Charles the Bald travelled to Italy where he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on 25 December. He held the position until his death in 877. His brother, Louis the German, also wanted to be emperor so when Charles was in Italy Louis invaded part of Charles' land. Charles returned to West Francia. When Louis died in 876 Charles then tried unsuccessfully to take over Louis' land. 

Summoned back to Italy by Pope John VII, Charles had difficulty in forming an army. He became ill and on the return trip home, he died on 6 October 867. Charles the Bald was initially buried at the Abbey of Natura in Burgundy. Later his remains were removed to the Abbey of Saint-Denis (now Basilica of Saint-Denis) in north Paris.

Charles the Bald had lived during a time of family conflict and much of his life was spent protecting his land or attempting to acquire family land that he believed that he was entitled to rule. He is also said to be remembered for his support of education and learning plus his support of the church.

Charles' first wife, Ermentrude, was also buried at the Abbey of Saint-Denis in 869.

The Flanders Connection part one

Exploring family trees can lead to unexpected discoveries providing greater knowledge and understanding of the past. Many years ago I discovered links in our family tree to William the Conqueror plus the Norman and Plantagenet kings of England as well as royalty in Scotland. Exploring William's ancestry leads to the arrival of Vikings in France many years earlier. But the family tree of his wife, Matilda of Flanders, also meanders through other important paths of our history.

Flanders

The County of Flanders is located in Belgium with one border on the North Sea. The county borders France in the south-west and it is across the sea from England. The area is part of the Low Countries.

Duchy of Normandy in 1066 - north east border with Flanders.

As Normandy and Flanders were neighbours it is not surprising that marriages had occurred for generations between the two locations.

Matilda of Flanders 

Matilda of Flanders was born 1031 in Bruges, Belgium. Her father was Count Baldwin V of Flanders (1012-1079) and her mother was Adela of France (1009-1079). Adela was the daughter of Robert II, King of the Franks (later known as France) and Adelaide of Aquitaine making Matilda the granddaughter of the French king. She could therefore be said to have royal connections.

Matilda probably married William, Duke of Normandy in 1051. As William's parents were not married when he was born he was considered to be base-born. Marrying Matilda with her royal connections helped raise William's status. Initially Pope Leo IX would not recognise the marriage as Matilda and William were distantly related. However Pope Nicholas II finally gave approval to the marriage in 1059. 

Matilda and William had about ten children (records vary). The sons were Robert II, duke of Normandy, Richard Curthose, William Rufus and Henry I. There were at least five daughters.

Matilda assisted William ruling Normandy and later in England. She was appointed regent when he was away. Matilda was also crowned Queen of England. Matilda had had a good education and ensured that her children, daughters as well as sons, were educated.

When her sons argued about inheritance Matilda infuriated William when he realised that she had given Robert money to assist him with his claim. Generally, however, William and Matilda worked together.

Matilda died on 2 November 1083 and was buried at buried in Caen at l'Abbaye aux Dames. William died four years later.

A longer post about Matilda of Flanders can be found in this blog. 

Count Baldwin V of Flanders

Count Baldwin V of Flanders was the father of Matilda of Flanders. He was born in 1012 and died 1067. In 1028 he married Adela of France (1009 -1079). They had three children including Matilda of Flanders. Baldwin V supported the King of France in most of his endeavours. He only partially supported his son-in-law on William's planned invasion of England as Baldwin V had previously supported Edward the Confessor in some of his decisions.

During his reign, Baldwin V secured the union between Flanders and Hainaut through strategic marriage alliances. He served as co-regent for his nephew Philip I of France from 1060 to 1067.

Count Baldwin IV of Flanders

Count Baldwin IV of Flanders, Known as the Bearded, was born in 980 and died in 1035. In around 1012 he married Otgivia (or Ogiva or Otgive) Luxembourg who was born in 955 and died in 30 May 1035.

Baldwin IV became Count of Flanders in 987 after the death of his father, Arnulf II. His mother, Rozala of Italy, served as regent until he reached maturity. Baldwin IV focused on expanding his influence eastward, delegating the southern parts of his territory to his vassals. He acquired Zeeland as a fief from Holy Roman Emperor Henry II and later gained control of Valenciennes, parts of Cambresis, Saint-Omer, and the northern Ternois. He was succeeded by his son, Baldwin V Count of Flanders.

Arnulf II Count of Flanders

Arnulf II was Count of Flanders from 965 until his death in 987. He was born to Baldwin III of Flanders and Matilda of Saxony, and became count as an infant after his father's death in 962. His grandfather Arnulf I managed Flanders until his own death in 965, after which Baldwin Balso served as regent until 973. Upon reaching majority in 976, Arnulf II faced territorial losses in Flanders, including parts of Picardy and Ponthieu. Arnulf II died on 30 March 987 at the age of 26.

Arnulf II married Rozala of Italy, daughter of Berengar II of Italy in 976. They had two children Count Baldwin III and Mathilda. After the death of her husband, Rozala became regent until in 988 she married Robert II and changed her name to Susannah. They divorced in 996.

The Flanders Connection part two

 Count Baldwin III of Flanders

Baldwin III, known as the Young, was born around 940 as the son of Count Arnulf I of Flanders and Adele of Vermandois. In 958, he became co-ruler of the County of Flanders alongside his father. Baldwin married Mathilde Billung of Saxony shortly before 961, and they had a son named Arnulf. During his brief rule, he established the wool manufacturing industry in Ghent and set up markets in other towns across Flanders. Baldwin III died of smallpox on 1 January 962 after a campaign against the Normans. Following his death, his son Arnulf II succeeded him under the guardianship of King Lothair of France.

Mathilde Billung of Saxony (c942-1008) was a daughter of Duke Hermann Billung. Her first marriage was to Baldwin III, Count of Flanders, with whom she had a son. After Count Baldwin's death she married Godfrey, count of Verdun, with whom she had several sons.

Arnulf I of Flanders

Arnulf I, known as "the Great", was the first Count of Flanders. He was born between 893 and 899. Arnulf was the son of Baldwin II of Flanders and Ælfthryth of Wessex, linking him to both the Anglo-Saxon kings of England and Charlemagne. Upon his father's death in 918, Arnulf became Count of Flanders, while his brother Adeloft took the County of Boulogne.

In 933, after Adeloft's death, Arnulf assumed control of Boulogne but later transferred it to his nephew, Arnulf II. He expanded Flemish territory southward, taking regions such as Artois and Ponthieu, and made Bruges a central administrative hub. His conflicts with the Normans led to the murder of William Longsword in 942, and he later focused on reforming the Flemish government.

Arnulf I died on 27 March 964, reportedly murdered by Heluin in revenge for William Longsword's death, and was buried in Saint-Peter's Abbey in Ghent. He was succeeded by his grandson, Arnulf II of Flanders, after his own son Baldwin III predeceased him.

Adele, born c. 910–915 was a daughter of Herbert II of Vermandois and his wife, Adele, daughter of Robert I of France. She died in 960 in Bruges in Western Flanders. In 934 Adele married Count Arnulf I of Flanders and they had the five children including Baldwin III of Flanders.

Count Baldwin II of Flanders

Baldwin II, born around 865, was the second Margrave of Flanders ( a military title), ruling from 879 to 918. He was the son of Baldwin I of Flanders and Judith, daughter of Emperor Charles the Bald. His early rule was challenged by Viking raids, leading him to relocate to Pagus Flandransis, where he built fortifications in key locations such as Saint-Omer and Bruges.

In 888, Baldwin II could have pursued the West Frankish crown after Charles the Fat's deposition but instead supported Arnulf of East Francia, who declined the offer. Baldwin's relationship with King Odo soured over control of the Abbey of St. Bertin, leading to conflict. He expanded his territory southward, gaining control over Artois and the Abbey of St. Vaast.

Baldwin II died on September 10, 918, near Ghent. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Arnulf I of Flanders.

 Between 893 and 899 he married Ælfthryth, the daughter of King Alfred the Great.

Ælfthryth of Wessex was the youngest daughter of Alfred the Great, King of England, and his wife Ealhswith. Her siblings included King Edward the Elder and Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians. Ælfthryth received an education alongside her brother Edward, which was uncommon for princesses of her time. When she married Baldwin II she became the Countess consort of Flanders. Ælfthryth of Wessex died on 7 June 929. Her children included Arnulf I of Flanders and Adalulf, Count of Boulogne.

Judith of Flanders and Count Baldwin I of Flanders

Judith, the eldest daughter of Emperor Charles the Bald, King of West Francia, and his first wife Ermentrude of Orléans was probably born in c843. In 1856 she married her first husband, the elderly King Æthelwulf of Wessex (the father of Alfred the Great). This was a political marriage to strengthen the alliance of the two territories when defending their land from the Vikings. After Æthelwulf's death in 858, Judith was married to his son and successor, Æthelbald. The church did not approve of this union but the marriage continued until the death ofÆthelbald in 860.There were no children from these two marriages.

Judith then returned to her parents in France where she was sent to a convent until her father found her a new husband. Judith took matters into her own hands and, escaping from the convent, married a man named Baldwin. Little is known about this Baldwin before his marriage to Judith. Judith's brother, Louis, assisted her in this endeavour. Judith's father was furious and the pope excommunicated the couple. Judith and Baldwin escaped to Lotharingia and eventually Pope Nicholas II persuaded the King to agree to his daughter's marriage.

King Charles put Baldwin in charge of a military attack against the Vikings which was successful. The area won by Baldwin's soldiers became known as Flanders. Charles the Bald then created the title, Count of Flanders, for Baldwin and from that time he was known as Count Baldwin I of Flanders.

Judith and Baldwin probably had four children. Charles (b. 864), did not survive to adulthood but another son was Baldwin II, Count of Flanders (865–918) while a third son, Raoul (or Rodulf, 867–896), was the Count of Cambrai. A daughter Gunhilde, born about 870, married Guifre I Count of Barcelona. 

Medieval Monarchs in Our Family Tree

Three years ago when my grand-daughter was studying medieval England at school I was asked about the medieval queens that she had heard were in our family tree. I added a number of posts about the queens and helped her make her costume for the medieval history day at school.

This year my grandson was doing the medieval history unit so I have now added information about the medieval kings in the family. He was especially interested in kings who fought battles which covered all of them.  Eventually he decided to call himself Edward I as he was known as the warrior king. Fortunately his mother's father helped him make a suit of armour for the event.

It is not unusual for families to be able to trace their family trees back to medieval monarchs, however having such connections is a good way to interest the younger generation in history. 

Medieval monarchs who ruled England from the arrival of William the Conqueror in 1066 until the death of Richard III in 1485 belonged to Norman or Plantagenet (also known as Angevin) dynasties. 

William the Conqueror and Henry I were Normans. From Henry II to Edward III the kings were known as Plantagenets. 

Rulers from the House of Lancaster and the House of York then ruled England until the death of Richard III before the arrival of the Tudors.

Medieval kings in our family tree include:

William the Conqueror (ruled from 1066 to 1087)
m. Matilda of Flanders
my 28th great grandparents

Henry I (ruled 1100 to 1135 after the death of his brother, Rufus)
m.Matilda of Scotland
my 27th great grandparents

Matilda (daughter of Henry I should have been Queen but was usurped by her cousin, Stephen)
m. Geoffrey of Anjou
my 26th great grandparents

Henry II (son of Maltilda ruled after the death of his uncle from 1154 to 1189)
m. Eleanor of Aquitaine
my 25th great grandparents

John (ruled from 1100 to 1216 after the death of his brother, Richard)
m. Isabella of Angoulême
my 24th great grandparents

Henry III (ruled from 1216 to 1272)
m. Eleanor of Provence
my 23rd great grandparents

Edward I (ruled from 1272 to 1307)
m. Eleanor of Castille
my 22nd great grandparents

Edward II (ruled from 1307 to 1327)
m. Isabella of France
my 21st great grandparents

Edward III (ruled from 1327 to 1377)
m. Philippa of Hainault
my 20th great grandparents

 Two posts in this blog provide information about discovering this aspect of our family story - Family legend  and Royalty in the family  

Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou (1113-1151)

The daughter of Henry I, known as Matilda, Empress of England (1102 to 1167) married Geoffrey V Plantagenet (1113 to 1151) in 1128. Geoffrey was eleven years younger than Matilda. He was 15 when they married. 

They were the parents of three sons - Henry II of England, Geoffrey and William. 

Geoffrey was the elder son of Fulk V of Anjou (c1092 to 1144) and Eremgarde de la Fleche (died 1126), daughter of Elais I of Maine. Fulk V married Eremgadre (or Eremburga) in 1109 and was King of Jerusalem from 1131 until his death in 1144.

Geoffrey's titles in France included Count of Anjou, Tourine and Maine by inheritance from 1129 and then Duke of Normandy by conquest from 1144.

Geoffrey had the nickname - Plantagenet - probably because he wore a sprig of yellow broom blossom in his hat. Genêt is the French name for the planta genista, or broom shrub.

Matilda had been promised that she would be queen after the death of her father. However, her cousin, Stephen, had other ideas. A series of battles, The Anarchy, followed from 1138 until 1153.

Geoffrey remained in France where he took control of Normandy for Matilda and became Duke of Normandy. In 1129 he had inherited the title of the count of Anjou and Maine.

Geoffrey looked after the family's French possessions while Matilda and her army were occupied in attempting to defeat Stephen.

Geoffrey died on 7 September 1151. He was buried at St Julien's Cathedral in Le Mans, France.

When King Stephen died, Geoffrey and Matilda's son became King Henry II of England.

Enamel effigy from 
Geoffrey's tomb 

John of Gaunt (1340-1399)

John of Gaunt was not a king of England but his family had many direct connections with royalty.

John Gaunt was born in Ghent, Belgium, on 6 March 1340. His parents were King Edward III and Philippa of Hanault. John was the fourth son and not expected to be king but he wielded much power in the kingdom.

In 1376 King Edward III had mostly retired from public life so was not available to attend a meeting of both houses of parliament. This meeting, later called the Good Parliament, met to bring in reforms to what was considered corrupt government. This was largely due to the expenses resulting in increased taxation due to the war with France There were also protests about corrupt officials who worked with the king.

John of Gaunt, the king's son, had become a key player in court politics and represented the king at the parliamentary sessions.

John of Gaunt was loyal to his father, amenable, and had become a skilled diplomat and politician. He was the natural choice to defend the interests of the Crown, and oversaw a complicated and divided parliament. He, became increasingly unpopular as he attempted to deal with the complaints and requests of parliament without diminishing the authority of the king. Initially the Commons was victorious in its claims, but six months later John of Gaunt reversed the outcome. These dealings with the parliament made John of Gaunt unpopular with the public as well as the politicians.

Richard II, the ten year old son of the Black Prince, became king after the death of Edward III. Although John of Gaunt (known as the Red Prince) was not officially regent he continued to oversee much of the government and protected the young prince. 

Over the years the political reputation of John of Gaunt varied depending on what else was happening in England. High taxation, however, led to political unrest in the community. In London, John of Gaunt resided at the Savoy Palace and in 1381 the palace was burned down by participants in the Peasant's Revolt. Fortunately John and his family were not in London at the time.

Artist impression of what the palace may have looked like - London Museum

In May 1359 at Reading Abbey, 19-year-old John married Blanche of Lancaster (1342 - 1368). Reports from the time state that this was a love match. Blanche was the daughter of the first Duke of Lancaster. When the duke died the entire Lancastrian estate was inherited by Blanche and John making them very rich.

John and Blanche had seven children but only three survived childhood - Philippa, Elizabeth and Henry (who became Henry IV).

John's second marriage was to Constance of Castile(1354 - 1394) in 1371. This was a political marriage providing John the chance to claim the Crown of Castile in Spain. In 1386 he travelled to Spain to claim the kingship of Castile but the expedition was not successful. However, their daughter, Catherine, later married King Henry III of Castile.

On 13 January 1396, John of Gaunt married his mistress, Katherine Swynford (1349 - 1403) - maiden name de Roet. They had four children born before they married - John, Henry, Thomas and Joan. The children were eventually declared legitimate by papal and royal decree and were given the surname, Beaufort. Katherine had been governess to the children of John and Blanche.

For many years Katherine and her children had lived with John and his other children when he was in England. However the Peasants' Revolt caused John to rethink about his position. Considering that God was punishing him for having a mistress, John publicly broke off his relationship with Katherine and she and the children returned to her home at Kettlethorpe. However John issued a 'quit claim' ensuring that all the gifts given by him to Katherine would remain her property. John also continued to support his children.

John of Gaunt was also a military leader - sometimes successful and sometimes not - and spent many years overseas, especially in France and Spain. In 1389 John of Gaunt became Duke of Aquitaine.

John of Gaunt was a patron and close friend of the poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, best known for writing 'The Canterbury Tales'. Chaucer married Philippa, the sister of Katherine Swynford.

John of Gaunt died on 3 February 1399 at Leicester Castle. He was 58. John of Gaunt was buried beside his first wife, Blanche, at St Paul's Cathedral. The tomb was destroyed in the Fire of London in 1666.

John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford were my 19th great grandparents.

Edward III (1312 - 1377)

King Edward III was born on 13 November 1312 at Windsor Castle. He was the son of King Edward II and Isabella of France.

Edward became king on 25 January 1327 when his father abdicated, He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 29 January 1327. He was 14. Edward officially assumed power to rule in 1330 - his mother and Roger Mortimer had taken power of government until then.

Roger Mortimer was executed and Edward's mother was imprisoned for the rest of her life.

In 1328 Edward married Phillipa of Hanault (1313 - 1369) at York Minster. They possibly had seven sons and five daughters though not all survived childhood.

Like the reigns of the Plantagenet kings before him, much of Edward's reign was involved in combat, particularly against the Scots and the French.

Edward's early experience against the Scots included the Weardale campaign in 1327 which the English lost. In 1329 England recognised Scotland as an independent nation. However conflict continued. In 1333 The troops of Edward III defeated the Scottish army at Halidon Hill near Berwick. Then in 1346, David II of Scotland invaded England but was defeated at Neville's Cross. King David was captured and imprisoned until 1357 when he was released from captivity and he returned to Scotland.

The French, however, remained the greatest challenge. In 1337 King Philip VI of France annexed the English King's Duchy of Aquitaine. Edward III then responded by claiming the French crown as he was a grandson of Philip IV via his mother Isabella. This resulted in many battles between England and France which became known as the 100 Years' War.

In 1346 the French were defeated at the Battle of Crecy while in 1347 Edward besieged and captured Calais. In 1356 King Edward's son, known as Black Prince because of his black armour, defeated the French at Poitiers capturing King John II of France who was imprisoned by the English for four years. Most of South western France was now held by the English.

When King John II of France was released from prison he agreed to pay a ransom. His son, Louis of Anjou, remained in English-held Calais as a hostage. Lois escaped in 1364 and as King John II had not paid the ransom he was imprisoned in England where he died.

The fighting continued. In 1367 England and France support rival sides when there was civil war in Castille. In 1369 the French reclaimed Aquitaine while in 1370 the Black Prince attacked Limoges. French troops recaptured Poitou and Brittany in 1372 and there was a naval battle at La Rochelle. In 1373, another of King Edward's sons, John of Gaunt, led an invasion of France taking his army to the borders of Burgundy.

The Treaty of Bruges was agreed to in 1375 and English lands in France were reduced to Bordeaux and Calais.

King Edward III is not only known for fighting battles.

In 1332 Parliament was divided into two houses, the Lords and the Commons. During this time English becomes the court language replacing Norman French. In 1337, Edward created the Duchy of Cornwall to provide the heir to the throne with an independent income. In 1344 Edward founded the Order of the Garter - an award made to nobles and the military for special service to the king.

Conflict with Scotland and France was not the only challenge facing the king and the people of England.

 The Black Death, a plague occurring in 1348-9, 1361-2 and 1369 was estimated to have killed killed 30-40% of the English population. In some villages, the death toll reached 80-90%. It is estimated that London's population was reduced from 100,000 to 20,000 in one generation. The first cases were reported in Dorset in 1348. The original plague morphed into a more deadly version killing most people affected by it. With so many deaths there was an acute shortage of labour for agriculture and armies for many years.

On 21 June 1377 King Edward III died at Sheen Palace in Surrey, after ruling England for fifty years. He was 64. He was buried at Westminster Abbey.

Edward's grandson, Richard II then became king. Richard was the son of Edward, the Black Prince, who had died in 1376.