Editing Hugh the Great (section)

==Biography==
Hugh was the son of King Robert I of France and [[Béatrice of Vermandois]],<ref name="ESII10-11">Detlev Schwennicke, ''[[Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten]]'', Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafeln 10-11</ref> a descendant of [[Charlemagne]]. He was born in [[Paris]], [[Île-de-France]], [[Kingdom of France|France]]. His eldest son was [[Hugh Capet]] who became [[King of France]] in 987.<ref>Jim Bradbury, ''The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328'' (Hambledon Continuum, London & New York, 2007), p. 69</ref> His family is known as the [[Robertians]].<ref>Lucien Bély, ''The History of France'' ( J.P. Gisserot, Paris, 2001), p. 21</ref>

In 922, the barons of [[Western Francia]], after revolting against the [[Carolingian]] King [[Charles the Simple]] (who fled his kingdom under their onslaught), elected Robert I, Hugh's father, as king of Western Francia.<ref name="PR252">Pierre Riché, ''The Carolingians; A Family who Forged Europe'', Trans. Michael Idomir Allen (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1993), p.250</ref> At the death of Robert I, in battle at [[Battle of Soissons (923)|Soissons]] in 923, Hugh refused the crown and it went to his brother-in-law [[Rudolph of France|Rudolph]].<ref name="PR252"/> Charles sought help in regaining his crown from Hugh's cousin Count [[Herbert II of Vermandois]], who instead of helping the king imprisoned him.<ref name="PR252"/> Herbert then used his prisoner as an advantage in pressing his own ambitions, using the threat of releasing the king up until Charles' death in 929.<ref>Pierre Riché, ''The Carolingians; A Family who Forged Europe'', Trans. Michael Idomir Allen (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1993), pp.250-1</ref> From then on Herbert II of Vermandois struggled with King Rudolph and Duke Hugh.<ref name="PR252"/> Finally Rudolph and Herbert II came to an agreement in 935.<ref name="PR252"/>

At the death of Rudolph in 936, Hugh was in possession of nearly all of the region between the [[Loire]] and the [[Seine]], corresponding to the ancient [[Neustria]], with the exceptions of Anjou and of the territory ceded to the [[Normans]] in 911.<ref>Elizabeth M. Hallam, ''Capetian France; 987-1328'' (Longman Group Ltd., London & New York, 1980), p. 89</ref> He took a very active part in bringing King [[Louis IV of France|Louis IV]] (''d'Outremer'') from the [[Kingdom of England]] in 936.<ref>''The Annals of Flodoard of Reims: 919-966'', Ed. & Trans. Stephen Fanning & Bernard S. Bachrach (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. xvii</ref> Historians have wondered why the powerful Hugh the Great called the young Louis to throne instead of taking it himself, as his father had done fifteen years earlier. In the first place, he had many rivals, especially [[Hugh, Duke of Burgundy]] (King Rudolph's brother), and [[Herbert II, Count of Vermandois]], who probably would have challenged his election. But above all, it seems that he was shocked by the early death of his father. [[Richerus]] explains that Hugh the Great remembered his father who had died for his "pretentions" and this was the cause of his short and turbulent reign. <ref>[http://www.persee.fr/doc/ahess_0395-2649_1988_num_43_3_283514  Sot, Michel. "Hérédité royale et pouvoir sacré avant 987", ''Annales ESC'', n° 43, 1988, pp.&nbsp;705–733]</ref>

In 937, Hugh's second wife, Eadhild, died. Later that year, he married [[Hedwige of Saxony]], a daughter of King [[Henry the Fowler]] of Germany and [[Matilda of Ringelheim|Matilda]]. Soon after this, his third marriage, he was drawn into a prolonged quarrel with Louis IV.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Hugh|volume=13|pages=857–858}}</ref><ref>Pierre Riché, ''The Carolingians; A Family who Forged Europe'', Trans. Michael Idomir Allen (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1993), p.262</ref> In 938, King Louis IV began attacking fortresses and lands formerly held by members of his family, some held by Herbert II of Vermandois.<ref>''The Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 919-966'', Ed. & Trans. Steven Fanning & Bernard S. Bachrach (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 30</ref> In 939, King Louis attacked Hugh the Great and Duke [[William Longsword]] of Normandy, after which a truce was concluded, lasting until June.<ref>''The Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 919-966'', Ed. & Trans. Steven Fanning & Bernard S. Bachrach (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 31</ref> That same year, Hugh, along with Count Herbert II of Vermandois, Count [[Arnulf I of Flanders]] and Duke William Longsword paid homage to the [[Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Otto the Great]], and supported him in his struggle against Louis.<ref>''The Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 919-966'', Ed. & Trans. Steven Fanning & Bernard S. Bachrach (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 32</ref>

When Louis fell into the hands of the [[Normans]] in 945, he was handed over to Hugh in exchange for their young duke Richard.<ref>David Crouch, ''The Normans'' (Hambledon Continuum, London & New York, 2007), p. 16</ref> Hugh released Louis IV in 946 on condition that he should surrender the fortress of [[Laon]].<ref>Jim Bradbury, ''The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328'' (Hambledon Continuum, London & New York, 2007), p. 40</ref> In 948 at a church council at [[Ingelheim am Rhein|Ingelheim]] the bishops, all but two being from Germany, condemned and excommunicated Hugh ''in absentia'', and returned Archbishop [[Artald of Reims|Artauld]] to his See at Reims.<ref name="JB41">Jim Bradbury, ''The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328'' (Hambledon Continuum, London & New York, 2007), p. 41</ref> Hugh's response was to attack Soissons and Reims while the excommunication was repeated by a council at [[Trier]].<ref name="JB41"/> In 953 Hugh finally relented and made peace with Louis IV, the church and his brother-in-law Otto the Great.<ref name="JB41"/>

On the death of Louis IV, Hugh was one of the first to recognize [[Lothair of France|Lothair]] as his successor, and, at the intervention of Lothair's mother, [[Gerberga of Saxony]], was instrumental in having him crowned.<ref name="JB41"/> In recognition of this service Hugh was invested by the new king with the duchies of [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]] and [[Aquitaine]].<ref name="JB42">Jim Bradbury, ''The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328'' (Hambledon Continuum, London & New York, 2007), p. 42</ref> In the same year, however, Duke [[Gilbert of Burgundy]] acknowledged himself his vassal and betrothed his daughter to Hugh's son [[Henry I, Duke of Burgundy|Otto-Henry]].<ref name="EB1911"/><ref name="JB42"/> At Giselbert's death on 8 April 956, Hugh became effective master of the duchy;<ref name="EB1911"/> Hugh died in [[Dourdan]] on 16 June.<ref name="ESII10-11"/><!--<ref group=lower-alpha>In the ''[[Divine Comedy]]'' Dante meets the soul of Duke Hugh in [[Purgatorio|Purgatory]], lamenting the avarice of his descendants.</ref>-->