Biography of Robert "Pious" II King France 972-1031

In or before 968 [his father] Hugh I King France (age 26) and [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 22) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] William "Towhead" III Duke Aquitaine and [his grandmother] Gerloc aka Adela Normandy Duchess Aquitaine. He the son of [his grandfather] Hugh "Great" Capet Count Paris and [his grandmother] Hedwig Saxon Ottonian.

On 27th March 972 Robert "Pious" II King France was born to [his father] Hugh I King France (age 31) and [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 27) at Orléans.

Around 983 Odo Blois I Count Blois (age 33) and [his future wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. She the daughter of Conrad I King Burgundy (age 58) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 40). He the son of Theobald "Trickster" Blois I Count Blois and Luitgarde Vermandois Duchess Normandy.

Before 30th March 987 Arnulf II Count Flanders (age 27) and [his future wife] Rozala of Italy (age 37) were married. She by marriage Countess Flanders. He the son of Baldwin III Count Flanders and Matilda Billung Countess Flanders (age 47).

On 21st May 987 Louis "Do Nothing" V King West Francia (age 20) died without issue ending the Carolingian Dynasty. [his father] Hugh I King France (age 46) was elected King West Francia beginning the Capetian Dynasty.

On 3rd July 987 [his father] Hugh I King France (age 46) was crowned I King France: Capet. [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 42) by marriage Queen France: Capet.

In 988 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 15) and Rozala of Italy (age 38) were married. They separated around the time of coronation. The difference in their ages was 22 years; she, unusually, being older than him. He the son of Hugh I King France (age 47) and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 43).

In 994 [his brother-in-law] Hugh Montdidier I Count Ponthieu and [his sister] Gisela Capet Countess Ponthieu (age 26) were married. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh I King France (age 53) and [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 49).

Around 994 [his brother-in-law] Hugh Ponthieu I Count Ponthieu and [his sister] Gisela Capet Countess Ponthieu (age 26) were married. She by marriage Countess Ponthieu. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh I King France (age 53) and [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 49).

Before 995 [his brother-in-law] Reginar Reginar IV Count Mons (age 44) and [his sister] Hedwig Capet Countess Mons (age 24) were married. She by marriage Countess Mons. The difference in their ages was 20 years. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh I King France (age 53) and [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 49). He the son of Reginar Reginar III Count Hainault.

On 24th October 996 [his father] Hugh I King France (age 55) died. His son Robert (age 24) succeeded II King France: Capet.

In 999 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 26) and Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 35) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. They separated sometime before 1003 as a consequence of their consanguinity. She the daughter of Conrad I King Burgundy and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy. He the son of Hugh I King France and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 54). They were second cousins.

In 1002 [his sister] Gisela Capet Countess Ponthieu (age 34) died.

Around 1003 [his daughter] Hedwig Capet Couness Nevers was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 30) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 17). She married 25th January 1016 Renauld I Count of Nevers and had issue.

In 1003 [his wife] Rozala of Italy (age 53) died.

In 1003 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 30) and Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 17) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of William "Liberator" Arles 1st Count Provence 1st Count Arles and Adelaide Blanche Ingelger Queen Consort West Francia (age 63). He the son of Hugh I King France and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 58).

Around 1004 [his step-son] Odo Blois II Count Blois (age 21) and Maud Normandy Countess Blois were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. She the daughter of Richard "Fearless" Normandy I Duke Normandy and Gunnora Countess Ponthieu. He the son of Odo Blois I Count Blois and [his wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 40).

In 1004 [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 59) died.

On 11th July 1004 [his step-son] Theobald Blois II Count Blois (age 19) died. His brother [his step-son] Odo (age 21) succeeded II Count Blois.

On 21st July 1006 [his sister-in-law] Gisela Welf Duchess Bavaria died.

In 1007 [his son] Hugh Magnus Capet was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 34) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 21).

In 1007 [his step-son] Odo Blois II Count Blois (age 24) and Ermengarde Auvergne Countess Blois (age 37) were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. He the son of Odo Blois I Count Blois and [his wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 43).

On 4th May 1008 [his son] King Henry I of France was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 36) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 22) at Reims. He married (1) 1034 Matilda Brunonids Queen Consort France, daughter of Liudolf Brunonids Margrave Frisia (2) 19th May 1051 Anne Rurik Queen Consort France and had issue.

In 1009 [his daughter] Adela Capet Duchess Normandy was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 36) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 23). She married (1) her second cousin once removed Richard Normandy III Duke Normandy, son of Richard "Good" Normandy II Duke Normandy and Judith Penthièvre Duchess Normandy (2) 1028 her half third cousin twice removed Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders, son of Baldwin "Bearded" IV Count Flanders and Ogive Luxemburg Countess Flanders, and had issue.

On 16th January 1010 [his wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 46) died.

In 1011 [his son] Robert I Duke Burgundy was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 38) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 25). He married (1) 1033 Helie Samur Duchess Burgundy and had issue (2) 1046 his second cousin Ermengarde Blanche Ingelger Duchess Burgundy, daughter of Fulk "Black" Ingelger III Count Anjou and Hildegarde Sundgau Countess Anjou, and had issue.

After 1013 [his sister] Hedwig Capet Countess Mons (deceased) died.

In 1014 [his daughter] Constance Capet was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 41) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 28). She married (1) Calvus Manasses Montdidier (2) Manasses Montdidier Count Dammartin and had issue.

On 25th January 1016 [his son-in-law] Renauld I Count of Nevers (age 11) and [his daughter] Hedwig Capet Couness Nevers (age 13) were married. She the daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France (age 43) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 30).

Around 30th May 1018 [his brother-in-law] William "Pious" Arles 2nd Count Provence (age 37) died. His son William succeeded 4th Count Provence. His son Fulk succeeded 1st Count Provence. Hildegard Countess Provence by marriage Countess Provence.

On 17th September 1025 [his son] Hugh Magnus Capet (age 18) died at Compiègne, Oise.

In 1028 [his son-in-law] Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders (age 15) and [his daughter] Adela Capet Duchess Normandy (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France (age 55) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 42). He the son of [his former step-son] Baldwin "Bearded" IV Count Flanders (age 48) and Ogive Luxemburg Countess Flanders. They were half third cousin twice removed.

On 20th July 1031 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 59) died at Melun, Seine et Marne. His son Henry (age 23) succeeded I King France: Capet.

In 1034 [his former wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 48) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th December 1643. On Christmas eve, I went to see the Cathedral at Nôtre Dame [Map], erected by Philip Augustus, but begun by King Robert, son of [his father] Hugh Capet. It consists of a Gothic fabric, sustained with 120 pillars, which make two aisles in the church round about the choir, without comprehending the chapels, being 174 paces long, 60 wide, and 100 high. The choir is inclosed with stonework graven with the sacred history, and contains forty-five chapels chancelled with iron. At the front of the chief entrance are statues in relievo of the kings, twenty-eight in number, from Childebert to the founder, Philip; and above them are two high square towers, and another of a smaller size, bearing a spire in the middle, where the body of the church forms a cross. The great tower is ascended by 389 steps, having twelve galleries from one to the other. They greatly reverence the crucifix over the screen of the choir, with an image of the Blessed Virgin. There are some good modern paintings hanging on the pillars. The most conspicuous statute is the huge colossal one of St. Christopher; with divers other figures of men, houses, prospects and rocks, about this gigantic piece; being of one stone, and more remarkable for its bulk than any other perfection. This is the prime church of France for dignity, having archdeacons, vicars, canons, priests, and chaplains in good store, to the number of 127. It is also the palace of the archbishop. The young king was there with a great and martial guard, who entered the nave of the church with drums and fifes, at the ceasing of which I was entertained with the church music; and so I left him.