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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_I_of_FranceRobert I ,
king of West Francia , was the younger son of
Robert the Strong,
count of Anjou, and the brother of
Odo, who became king of the Western Franks in 888. West Francia evolved over time into
France; under Odo, the capital was fixed on
Paris, a large step in that direction. His family is known as the
Robertians.
He was present at the
Siege of Paris in 885. Appointed by Odo ruler of several counties, including the
county of Paris, and
abbot in commendam of many abbeys, Robert also secured the office of
Dux Francorum, a military dignity of high importance. He did not claim the crown of West Francia when his brother died in 898; but recognising the supremacy of the
Carolingian king,
Charles the Simple, he was confirmed in his offices and possessions, after which he continued to defend northern Francia from the attacks of the
Norsemen.
The peace between the king and his powerful vassal was not seriously disturbed until about 921. The rule of Charles, and especially his partiality for a certain
Hagano, had aroused some irritation; and, supported by many of the clergy and by some of the most powerful of the Frankish nobles, Robert took up arms, drove Charles into
Lorraine, and was himself crowned king of the Franks at
Rheims on
June 29,
922. Collecting an army, Charles marched against the usurper and, on
June 15,
923, in a stubborn and sanguinary battle near
Soissons, Robert was killed, according to one tradition in single combat with his rival.
Robert was married twice. Through his first wife, Aelis, a descendant of
Charlemagne, he had two daughters. Each married powerful lay vassals of their father:
Emma of France to
Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, and Hildebranda to
Herbert II of Vermandois. Through his second wife,
Béatrice of Vermandois, daughter of
Herbert I of Vermandois, he had his only son,
Hugh the Great, who was later dux Francorum and father of
King Hugh Capet, and a daughter Richilda. He may have had other daughters.