On July 3, 987, Hugh Capet was crowned King of the Franks in Noyon by Archbishop Adalberon of Reims, after being chosen by the nobles of the kingdom upon the death of the last Carolingian king, Louis V. Duke of the Franks and heir to the powerful Robertian family, he founded the Capetian dynasty, destined to reign over France for more than eight centuries through its various branches.
The end of the Carolingians
The death of Louis V without an heir triggered a succession crisis. Charles of Lorraine, the deceased's uncle and the last Carolingian claimant, could theoretically have ascended to the throne. However, Archbishop Adalberon of Reims and several other powerful lords preferred Hugh Capet, considered a strong candidate but one sufficiently dependent on the major territorial princes.
The new sovereign then reigned over only a modest domain, centered around Paris and Orléans. Compared to the dukes of Normandy, Aquitaine, or Burgundy, his authority remained limited.
A dynasty destined to last
To ensure the continuity of his family on the throne, Hugh Capet had his son Robert crowned on December 25, 987, in Orléans. This practice of associating the son with power became an essential instrument of Capetian stability.
Upon his death on October 24, 996, Robert II succeeded him without major opposition. Hugh Capet's reign remained brief, but his accession to the throne marked a decisive turning point: the Capetians gradually established themselves as the royal family of France, until the French Revolution.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.