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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_the_GreatHugh the Great was duke of the
Franks and count of
Paris, son of King
Robert I of France and nephew of King
Odo. He was born in Paris, Ile-de-France, France. His eldest son was
Hugh Capet who became King of France in 987. His family is known as the
Robertians.
Hugh's first wife was Eadhild, daughter of
Edward the Elder, king of England, and sister of King
Athelstan. At the death of
Rudolph,
duke of Burgundy, in 936, Hugh was in possession of nearly all the region between the
Loire and the
Seine, corresponding to the ancient
Neustria, with the exception of the territory ceded to the
Normans in 911. He took a very active part in bringing
Louis IV from the
Kingdom of England in 936, but in the same year Hugh married
Hedwige of Saxony, a daughter of
Henry the Fowler of Germany and
Matilda of Ringelheim, and soon quarrelled with Louis.
Hugh even paid homage to the
Emperor Otto the Great, and supported him in his struggle against Louis. When Louis fell into the hands of the Normans in 945, he was handed over to Hugh, who released him in 946 only on condition that he should surrender the fortress of
Laon. At the
council of Ingelheim Hugh was condemned, under pain of excommunication, to make reparation to Louis. It was not, however, until 950 that the powerful vassal became reconciled with his suzerain and restored Laon. But new difficulties arose, and peace was not finally concluded until 953.
On the death of Louis IV, Hugh was one of the first to recognize
Lothair as his successor, and, at the intervention of
Queen Gerberga, was instrumental in having him crowned. In recognition of this service Hugh was invested by the new king with the duchies of
Burgundy and
Aquitaine. But his expedition in 955 to take possession of Aquitaine was unsuccessful. In the same year, however, Giselbert, duke of Burgundy, acknowledged himself his vassal and betrothed his daughter to Hugh's son Otto. At Giselbert's death Hugh became effective master of the duchy, but died soon afterwards, on the 16 or
17 June 956, in
Dourdan.
In
the Divine Comedy Dante meets the soul of Duke Hugh in Purgatory, lamenting the avarice of his descendants.