Editing Robert II of France (section)

===Marital problems===
====First marriage: Rozala of Italy====
[[File:Susanna of Italy.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Rozala (renamed Susanna) of Italy, as Countess of Flanders (late years of 15th century).]]
Immediately after associating his son with the throne, Hugh Capet wanted Robert II to marry a royal princess, but the prohibition against marriage within the third degree of [[consanguinity]] obliged him to seek a bride in the East. He had a letter written by Gerbert of Aurillac asking the [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Basil II]] for the hand of one of his nieces for Robert II; however, no Byzantine response is recorded.{{sfn|Bouchard|1981|pp=274, 276}} After this rebuff, and under pressure from his father (who apparently wanted to reward the Flemish for their help when he seized power in 987),{{sfn|Nicholas|1992|p=45}} Robert II had to marry [[Rozala of Italy|Rozala]], daughter of [[Berengar II of Italy|Berengar II of Ivrea, King of Italy]] and widow of [[Arnulf II, Count of Flanders]]. The wedding, celebrated before 1 April 988, brought Robert II possession of the cities of [[Montreuil, Pas-de-Calais|Montreuil]] and [[Ponthieu]] and a possible guardianship over the [[County of Flanders]], given the young age of Rozala's son [[Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders|Baldwin IV]], for whom she had been acting as regent ever since her first husband's death.{{sfn|Theis|1999|pp=53–55}}<ref>Pierre Riché, ''Les Carolingiens, une famille qui fit l'Europe'' (in French). Hachette, Paris, 1997, p. 303.</ref>

Upon her marriage, Rozala became junior Queen consort of the Franks and took the name of ''Susanna'';{{sfn|Pfister1885|p=41–69}}{{sfn|Bouchard|1981|p=273}} however, after about three or four years of marriage (c. 991–992), the young Robert II repudiated her,<ref name="Deslot">Thierry Deslot, ''Impératrices et reines de France'' (in French). Editions de la Bruyère, 1996. {{ISBN|978-2840142799}}</ref> due to the excessive age difference between them (Rozala was almost 22 years older than him{{sfn|Vasiliev|1951|pp=233–234}} and probably too old to have more children). In fact, the breakup was justified by the absence of a child from their union and, for this reason, Hugh Capet and his advisers did not oppose the annulment proceedings.

{{blockquote|author=Richer of Reims, ''History'', 996–998.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=78}}|"King Robert, having arrived at his 19th year, in the prime of his youth, repudiated, because she was too old, his wife Susanna, Italian by nation."}}

Separated from her husband, Rozala returned to Flanders at the side of her son Baldwin IV and became one of his principal advisers. Robert II managed to keep the port of Montreuil (part of his former wife's dowry), a strategic point on [[English Channel|the Channel]].{{sfn|Bautier|1992|p=35}} Historians believe that from this period, Robert II wished to challenge his father and finally reign alone.

The marriage was formally annulled in late 996, following Hugh Capet's death and Robert II's ascension as sole King of the French.<ref name="Deslot"/>

====Second marriage: Bertha of Burgundy====
{{Redirect|Excommunication of Robert the Pious|the painting|The Excommunication of Robert the Pious}}[[File:Bertha of Burgundy.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Bertha of Burgundy, detail from a genealogical chart of the Ottonian dynasty in a manuscript of the 2nd half of 12th century.]]
Now Robert II was determined to find a bride who would give him the much hoped-for male offspring. In early 996, probably during the military campaign against Count [[Odo I, Count of Blois|Odo I of Blois]], he met Countess [[Bertha of Burgundy]], wife of the latter. She was a daughter of King [[Conrad I of Burgundy|Conrad of Burgundy]]<ref>Stefan Weinfurter, ''The Salian Century: Main Currents in an Age of Transition'', transl. Barbara M. Bowlus, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999), p. 46.</ref> and his wife [[Matilda of France|Matilda]] (in turn daughter of King [[Louis IV of France]] and [[Gerberga of Saxony]], sister of [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor]]), so was from an undisputed royal lineage. Robert II and Bertha quickly became attracted to each other despite the complete resistance of Hugh Capet{{efn|Moreover, Gerbert of Aurillac expressed his disagreement, not only out of friendship for Hugh Capet but also for canonical reasons.<ref name="Riché">Pierre Riché, ''Gerbert d'Aurillac, Le pape de l'an mil'' (in French). Fayard, Paris 1987, p. 168.</ref>}} (the [[House of Blois]] was the great enemy of the [[Capetian dynasty]]). However, Robert II saw, in addition to his personal feelings, that Bertha would also bring all the Blois territories under Capetian control.{{sfn|Theis|1999|pp=80–83}} The deaths in 996 of Odo I of Blois (12 March) and Hugh Capet (24 October) eliminated the main obstacles for a union between Robert II and Bertha.

According to French historian Michel Rouche, this alliance was purely political: to loosen the grip threatening the Capetian dynasty and its stronghold of [[Île-de-France]], and probably according to the will of Robert II's mother, Queen [[Adelaide of Aquitaine]]; indeed, the territories of Odo I were [[Blois]], [[Chartres]], [[Melun]] and [[Meaux]]. In addition, the couple were just waiting for the statutory nine months set by law after Odo I's death. It was, therefore, obvious that another objective was to have legitimate children.<ref name="Rouche">Michel Rouche, ''Gerbert face au mariage incestueux: le cas de Robert le Pieux'', (in French) in acts of the study days of Aurillac, ''Gerbert, Moine, Évêque et Pape'', Aurillac, ed. Association cantalienne pour la commémoration du pape Gerbert, 2000, p. 155.</ref>

However, two important details obstructed this union: firstly, Robert II and Bertha were second cousins (their respective grandmothers, [[Hedwig of Saxony|Hedwig]] and [[Gerberga of Saxony|Gerberga]], were sisters){{efn|Since 830, the canonical doctrine prevented all unions within the 7th degree of kinship, fearing consanguineous relationships.{{sfn|Menant|1999|p=35}}}} and secondly, Robert II was the godfather of [[Theobald II of Blois|Theobald]], one of the sons of Bertha.{{efn|With regard to the spiritual kinship, [[Helgaud]] wrote: ''Quoniam non exhorruit facinus copulationis inlicite, dum commatrem et sibi consanguinitatis vinculo nexam duxit uxorem.''}} According to canon law, marriage was then impossible.<ref name="Rouche"/> Despite this, the two lovers began a sexual relationship and Robert II put part of the [[County of Blois]] under his direct rule. He took over the city of [[Tours]] and [[Langeais]] from Count [[Fulk III, Count of Anjou|Fulk III of Anjou]], thus breaking the alliance with the [[House of Ingelger]], faithful support of the late Hugh Capet. At the start of Robert II's reign, the alliance relations were thus changed.{{sfn|Theis|1999|pp=85–86}}

{{blockquote|author=Richer of Reims, ''History'', 996–998.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=81}}|"Bertha, the wife of Odo, took King Robert as her protector and defender of her cause."}}

[[File:Laurens excomunication 1875 orsay.jpg|thumb|250px|left|''[[The Excommunication of Robert the Pious]]'', oil on canvas by [[Jean-Paul Laurens]], 1875, currently at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. In reality, the excommunication of the king was never promulgated by the Pope.<ref name="Riché2"/>]]

Robert II and Bertha quickly found a complacent bishop to marry them off, which Archambaud de Sully, [[Archbishop of Tours]], finally did in November/December 996,<ref name="Riché"/> much to the chagrin of the new [[Pope Gregory V]]. To please the Holy See, Robert II annulled the sentence of the Council of Saint-Basle, freed Archbishop Arnoul and restored him to the episcopal see of Reims. Gerbert of Aurillac then had to take refuge with Emperor Otto III in 997. Despite this, the Pope ordered Robert II and Bertha to put an end to their "incestuous union".{{sfn|Menant|1999|pp=35–36}} Finally, the two councils which met first in [[Pavia]] (February 997), then in [[Rome]] (summer 998), condemned them to do penance for seven years and, in the event of non-separation, they would be struck with [[excommunication]].{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=215}} Moreover, at the end of three years of union, there were no living descendants: Bertha gave birth only to one stillborn son, in 999. That year, the accession of Gerbert of Aurillac to the Papacy under the name of [[Pope Sylvester II|Sylvester II]] did not change anything. Following a synod, the new Pope accepted the condemnation of the King of the Franks whose "perfidy" he had suffered.<ref name="Riché2">Pierre Riché, ''Gerbert d'Aurillac, Le pape de l'an mil'' (in French). Fayard, Paris 1987, pp. 200–201.</ref> Finally, the seven years of penance were completed around 1003.<ref name="Rouche2">Michel Rouche, ''Gerbert face au mariage incestueux: le cas de Robert le Pieux'', (in French) in acts of the study days of Aurillac, ''Gerbert, Moine, Évêque et Pape'', Aurillac, ed. Association cantalienne pour la commémoration du pape Gerbert, 2000, p. 160.</ref>
{{blockquote|author=[[Ivo of Chartres]], IX, 8, letter to King [[Henry I of France|Henry I]].|"They came to the Apostolic See and after having received satisfaction for their penance, they returned home (''Postea ad sedem apostolicam venientes, cum satisfactione suscepta penitentia, redierunt ad propria'')."<ref name="Rouche2"/>}}

Despite the threat of excommunication, Robert II and Bertha refused to submit until September 1001, when they finally became separated. The inability of Bertha to produce further offspring after her stillbirth was probably the main reason for this. Robert II, in need of male heirs, decided to remarry one more time.<ref name="Rouche2"/>

====Third marriage: Constance of Arles====
[[File:Constance d'Arles et Robert II le Pieux.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Constance of Arles, depicted in an engraving of the late 19th century.]]
After October 1002 and before August 1004, Robert II contracted his third and last marriage with the 17-year-old [[Constance of Arles|Constance]] (a distant princess, to avoid any close relationship), daughter of Count [[William I of Provence|William I of Arles and Provence]] and his wife [[Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou]].{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=131}} The new Queen's parents were prestigious in their own right: Count William I was nicknamed "the Liberator" (''le Libérateur'') thanks to his victories against the [[Saracens]], and Countess Adelaide-Blanche's blood relations with the [[House of Ingelger]] allowed Robert II to restored his alliance with them.{{sfn|Menant|1999|p=36}} Six{{efn|According to several sources,<ref>{{Cite book |first=Donald C. |last=Jackman |title=Extension of Latin Relationship Terms in Medieval France |series=Archive for Medieval Prosopography |issue=15 |date=2019 |page=74 |isbn=978-1-936466-65-8}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=6aCcDwAAQBAJ online]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first=Philippe |last=Thuillot |title=Les châtellenies au nord du Bassin parisien, du Xe au XIIIe siècles: étude sur les cadres institutionnels et les lieux de pouvoir, sur la société aristocratique (princes, comtes et chevaliers) |language=French |journal=Histoire. Université Paris-Est |date=2019 |page=365}}</ref> and considering the word "daughter" (''filla'') in the strict contemporary form, many authors believed that Constance, wife of Count [[Manasses, Count of Dammartin|Manasses of Dammartin]] (d. 1037) was another daughter of Robert II—from one of his three marriages, or daughter-in-law, or illegitimate daughter or even a godchild—and Constance of Arles—due to onomastics reasons she could be either her mother or godmother—. The connection is suggested by the presence of the royal couple at a donation by "''Manasses comes''" dated 4 February 1031 where Constance is named as ''filla'' of the King and Queen. On the other hand, Rodolfus Glaber records that Robert II had two daughters by his wife Constance, presumably referring to Hedwig and Adela, so ignoring any daughter named Constance. According to ''Europäische Stammtafeln'', the wife of Count Manasses was "Constance [of Dammartin]", presumably on the theory that she brought her husband the [[County of Dammartin]].}} children born from Constance's marriage to Robert II are recorded:

* [[Hedwig of France, Countess of Nevers|Hedwig [Advisa]]], Countess of Auxerre (ca. 1003 – aft. 1063), married [[Renauld I, Count of Nevers]]{{sfn|Bouchard|1987|p=343}} on 25 January 1016 and had issue.
* [[Hugh of France (son of Robert II)|Hugh]], Junior King (1007 – 17 September 1025).
* [[Henry I of France|Henry I]], successor (bef. 17 April/4 May 1008 – 4 August 1060).{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=112}}
* [[Adela of France, Countess of Flanders|Adela]], Countess of Contenance (ca. 1009 – 8 January 1079), married (1) [[Richard III of Normandy]] and (2) Count [[Baldwin V of Flanders]].{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=112}}
* [[Robert I, Duke of Burgundy|Robert]] (1011–12 – 21 March 1076), named by his father heir to the Duchy of Burgundy in 1030, installed as such in 1032 by his brother.{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=112}}   
* Odo [Eudes] (1013 – 15 May 1057–59), who may have been [[intellectual disability|intellectually disabled]] according to the chronicle (ended in 1138) of Pierre, son of Béchin, canon of Saint-Martin-de-Tours. He died after his brother's failed invasion of Normandy.
[[File:Robert2Franc Constance of Arles.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Constance of Arles surrendering to her son [[Henry I of France]]. [[Illuminated manuscript|Illumination]] on [[parchment]] from ca. 1375–1380 manuscript. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Fr 2813, folio 177 recto.]]

Since early in her marriage, Constance often placed herself at the center of many intrigues to preserve a preponderant place in the Frankish court. Rodolfus Glaber rightly emphasized that the Queen was "in control of her husband". For contemporaries, a woman who led her husband implied an abnormal situation. It all started at the beginning of the year 1008, a day when the King and his faithful [[Count palatine]] Hugh of Beauvais were hunting in the forest of Orléans. Suddenly, twelve armed men appeared and threw themselves on Hugh before killing him under the eyes of the king. The crime was ordered by Count Fulk III of Anjou, and with all probability supported by the Queen.{{efn|Hugh of Beauvais, cousin of the Count of Blois, was one of Bertha's supporters, which explains Constance's hostility towards him.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=142}}}} Robert II, exasperated by his wife after six or seven years of marriage (c. 1009–1010), went personally to [[Rome]] accompanied by Angilramme (a monk from Saint-Riquier) and Bertha de Burgundy. His plan was to obtain from [[Pope Sergius IV]] an annulment from his marriage with Constance and to remarry Bertha,{{sfn|Adair|2003|p=13}}<ref>Christian Bouyer, ''Dictionnaire des Reines de France'' (in French). Academic Library Perrin, 1992. {{ISBN|2-262-00789-6}}</ref> whom Robert II still loved deeply,<ref name="Rouche2"/> under the grounds of Constance's participation in the murder of Hugh of Beauvais. [[Odorannus]], a [[Benedictine]] [[monk]] from the [[Abbey of Saint-Pierre-le-Vif]] in [[Sens]], explains in his writings that during her husband's journey to Rome, Constance withdrew in distress to her dominions at [[Theil]]. According to him, Saint Savinian would have appeared to him and secured that the royal marriage would be preserved; three days later, Robert II was back, definitively abandoning Bertha.{{efn|From 1010, Bertha disappeared from the documentation and she died in January of the same year.<ref>[[Odorannus]], ''Opera omnia'', ed. and trad. by Robert-Henri Bautier, CNRS, Paris, 1972.</ref>}}
The problems did not end, however. The rivalry between Bertha and Constance only enhanced the hatred between the Houses of Blois and Anjou. In the midst of this dispute, after the military victory of [[Odo II, Count of Blois|Odo II of Blois]] over [[Fulk III of Anjou]] in [[Pontlevoy]] (1016), the Queen sought to strengthen her family's position at court. For this, she and her Angevin relatives pressured the King to associate her eldest son Hugh to the throne, to ensure the regency of Constance over the Kingdom in the event of Robert II's death. Against the opinion of the royal councilors and the territorial princes, Robert II relented and thus, according to Rodulfus Glaber, 10-years-old Hugh was consecrated Junior King on [[Pentecost Day]] (9 June) 1017 in the church of the Abbey of Saint-Corneille in [[Compiègne]].<ref>Rodulfi Glabri, ''Historiarum'' III.32, p. 151.</ref> Although the association markedly favored the House of Anjou (and could put the sovereign's own life at risk), Robert II considered that this was the best way to consolidate the new Capetian dynasty and prevent another of the noble families from disputing the throne. However, he did not give any royal power to his son and, for this, Hugh was constantly humiliated by his mother. When he came of age, the junior King rebelled against his father, but eventually was restored in the royal favor.<ref name="Pfister">[[Christian Pfister]], ''Études sur le règne de Robert le Pieux (996–1031)'' (in French). Paris, 1885. {{oclc|740889479}}</ref>