Editing Charlemagne (section)

== Wives, concubines, and children ==
{{further|Carolingian dynasty}}
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'''Wives and their children'''{{sfn|Nelson|2019|pp=xxxiv–xxxv}}{{sfn|Costambeys|Innes|MacLean|2011|p=xxi}}
* [[Himiltrude]]{{efn|The nature of Himiltrude's relationship to Charlemagne is uncertain. A 770 letter by [[Pope Stephen III]] describes both Carloman and Charlemagne "by [God's] will and decision...joined in lawful marriage...[with] wives of great beauty from the same fatherland as yourselves."{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=105}} Stephen wrote this in the context of attempting to dissuade either king from entering into a marriage alliance with Desiderius.{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|p=84}} By 784, at Charlemagne's court, Paul the Deacon wrote that their son Pepin was born "before legal marriage", but whether he means Charles and Himiltrude were never married, were joined in a non-canonical marriage or {{lang|de|[[friedelehe]]}}, or if they married after Pepin was born is unclear.{{sfn|Goffart|1986}} Roger Collins,{{sfn|Collins|1998|p=40}} Johannes Fried,{{sfn|Fried|2016|pp=50–51}} and Janet Nelson{{sfn|Nelson|2019|pp= 91, 107, 285–286}} all portray Himiltrude as a wife of Charlemagne in some capacity. Fried also dates the beginning of their relationship to 763 or even earlier.{{sfn|Fried|2016|p=50}}}} (768–770)
** [[Pepin the Hunchback]] ({{circa|769}}/770–811)
* [[Desiderata, wife of Charlemagne|Desiderata]], daughter of [[Desiderius]], king of the [[Lombards]] (m. 770–771)
* [[Hildegard (queen)|Hildegard]] (m. 771–783) daughter of [[Gerold of Anglachgau]]
** [[Charles the Younger]] ({{circa|772/773}}–811), Duke of Maine
** Adalhaid (773/4–774), born while her parents were on campaign in Italy. She was sent back to Francia, but died before reaching Lyons{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=133}}
** [[Rotrude]] (or Hruodrud) ({{circa|775}}–810)
** [[Pepin of Italy|Carloman]] (777–810, Baptised "Pepin" 15 April 781), [[King of Italy]]
** [[Louis the Pious|Louis]] (778–840), [[King of Aquitaine]] since 781, crowned co-emperor in 813, senior Emperor from 814
** Lothair (778–779/780), twin of Louis, he died in infancy{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=181}}
** [[Bertha, daughter of Charlemagne|Bertha]] (779/780–826)
** [[Gisela, daughter of Charlemagne|Gisela]] (b. 782)
** Hildegard (782–783)
* [[Fastrada]] (m. 783–794)
** [[Theodrada]] (b. 785), Abbess of [[Argenteuil]]
** Hiltrude (b. 787, d. after 808)
* [[Luitgard (Frankish queen)|Luitgard]] (m. 794–800)
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'''Concubines and their children'''{{sfn|Nelson|2019|pp=xxxiv–xxxv}}{{sfn|Costambeys|Innes|MacLean|2011|p=xxi}}
* [[Gersuinda]]
** Adaltrude
* Madelgard
** [[Ruothild (daughter of Charlemagne)|Ruothild]] (d. 852), Abbess of [[Abbey of Faremoutiers|Faremoutiers]]
* Regina
** [[Drogo of Metz|Drogo]] (801–855), [[Bishop of Metz]]
** [[Hugh (abbot of Saint-Quentin)|Hugh]] ({{circa|802}}–844), [[archchancellor]] of the Empire
* Adallind
** Theodoric (b. 807)
* Unknown partners
** Hruodhaid (b. 784)
** Richbod (805–844), Abbot of [[Saint-Riquier]]
** Bernard (fl. 843), Abbot of [[Moutiers-Saint-Jean Abbey]]
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[[File:Charlemagne et Louis le Pieux.jpg|thumb|alt=Miniature of Charlemagne talking to his son, with other men nearby|Charlemagne instructing his son, [[Louis the Pious]]]]
Charlemagne had at least twenty children with his wives and other partners.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|pp=xxxiv–xxxv}}{{sfn|Costambeys|Innes|MacLean|2011|p=xxi}} After the death of his wife Luitgard in 800, he did not remarry, but had children with unmarried partners.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=440}} He was determined that all his children, including his daughters, should receive an education in the liberal arts. His children were taught in accordance with their aristocratic status, which included training in riding and weaponry for his sons, and embroidery, spinning and weaving for his daughters.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=443}}

Rosamond McKitterick writes that Charlemagne exercised "a remarkable degree of patriarchal control&nbsp;... over his progeny," noting that only a handful of his children and grandchildren were raised outside his court.{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|p=93}} Pepin of Italy and Louis reigned as kings from childhood and lived at their courts.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=186}} Careers in the church were arranged for his illegitimate sons.{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|p=91}} His daughters were resident at court or at [[Chelles Abbey]] (where Charlemagne's sister was abbess), and those at court may have fulfilled the duties of queen after 800.{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|pp=94–95}}

Louis and Pepin of Italy married and had children during their father's lifetime, and Charlemagne brought Pepin's daughters into his household after Pepin's death.{{sfn|McKitterick|2008|pp=91–93}} Rotrude had been betrothed to Emperor Constantine VI, but the betrothal was ended.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|pp=225–226}} None of Charlemagne's daughters married, although several had children with unmarried partners. Bertha had two sons, [[Nithard]] and Hartnid, with Charlemagne's courtier [[Angilbert]]; Rotrude had a son named [[Louis (abbot of Saint-Denis)|Louis]], possibly with Count [[Rorgon I, Count of Maine|Rorgon]]; and Hiltrude had a son named Richbod, possibly with a count named Richwin.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=441}} The {{lang|la|Divisio Regnorum}} issued by Charlemagne in 806 provided that his legitimate daughters be allowed to marry or become nuns after his death. Theodrada entered a convent, but the decisions of his other daughters are unknown.{{sfn|Nelson|2019|p=435}}