Editing Robert II of France (section)

====The only heir of the Duke of the Franks====
{{main|Robertians}} {{main|Hugh Capet}} 
[[File:Mynt slaget av Hugo Capet.jpg|thumb|right|Denier of Hugh Capet, "Duke by the grace of God" (''Dux Dei Gratia''), Paris studio (Parisi Civita), late 10th century.]]
Robert II's exact date  and birthplace are unknown, although historians have advocated for the year 972 and the city of [[Orléans]]{{efn|The biographer Helgaud de Fleury claimed that Robert II was born in [[Orléans]] but at an unknown date. As he was about fifteen years old when he was associated to the throne by his father (in 987), his birth can be posited at around 972.{{sfn|de Fleury|1824|p=382}}}} (the capital of the [[Robertians]] from the 9th century onward).{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=11}} The only son of [[Hugh Capet]] and [[Adelaide of Aquitaine]], he was named after his heroic ancestor [[Robert the Strong]], who had died fighting the [[Vikings]] in 866. His parents' marriage produced at least two other daughters:{{efn|Hedwig and Gisela's parentage is confirmed by contemporary sources without any doubt; a number of other daughters are less reliably attested.{{sfn|Gauvard|1996|p=531}}}} [[Hedwig of France, Countess of Mons|Hedwig]] (wife of [[Reginar IV, Count of Mons|Reginar IV]], [[Count of Hainaut]]) and [[Gisela of France, Countess of Ponthieu|Gisela]] (wife of [[Hugh I, Count of Ponthieu]]).

In the 10th century, the Robertians were the most powerful aristocratic family in the Kingdom of France. In previous decades, two of its members, [[Odo of France|Odo]] (888) and [[Robert I of France|Robert I]] (922), had ascended to the throne, displacing the ruling [[Carolingian dynasty]]. The principality of [[Hugh the Great]], [[Duke of the Franks]] and Robert II's paternal grandfather, marked the apogee of the Robertians until his death in 956. In the middle of the 10th century, [[Hugh Capet]] succeeded as the head of the family.{{sfn|Sassier|2000|p=183}}

Robert II's youth was especially marked by the incessant fights of King [[Lothair of France]] to recover [[Lorraine]], the "cradle of the Carolingian family", at the expense of Emperor [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]]:

{{blockquote|author=Richer of Reims, ca. 991–998.{{sfn|Theis|1999|p=184}}|"As Otto possessed Belgium (Lorraine) and that Lothair sought to seize it, the two kings attempted against each other very treacherous machinations and ''coups de force'', because both claimed that their fathers had possessed."}}

In August 978, King Lothair unexpectedly launched a general assault on [[Aix-la-Chapelle]] where the imperial family resided, which narrowly escaped capture. After having looted the imperial palace and the surroundings, he returned to France carrying the insignia of the Empire. In the following October, to take revenge, Otto II assembled an army of 60,000 men and invaded Lothair's domains. The latter, with only a few troops around him, was forced to take refuge with Hugh Capet, who was then said to be the savior of the Carolingian kingship.{{sfn|Theis|1990|p=186}} The Robertian dynasty then took a turn that changed the fate of young Robert II. Bishop [[Adalbero (archbishop of Reims)|Adalbero of Reims]], originally a man of King Lothair, turns more and more towards the Ottonian court for which he feels a great sympathy.