26th Generation

35653632. Hugh CAPET , King of France was born about 938. He died on 24 Oct 996. He was buried in St. Denis Basillica, France. He is reference number 1157. Hugh Capet (French Hugues Capet) (938 - October 24, 996) was King ofFrance from 987 to 996.Capet is a nickname for "wearing a cape".

Born in 938, in Paris, France, from a wealthy and powerful family, theeldest son of Hugh the Great and Hedwige of Saxony (c.910-c.965). HughCapet wanted to become a lay abbot, and in 980 arranged to move therelics of St. Valery to Amiens Cathedral. He inherited his fathers vastestates and became the most powerful noble of his time. Hugh alliedhimself with the German emperors, marrying the daughter of Emperor Otto,and exercised greater influence than the weak Carolingian king, Lothair.After Lothair and his son died in early 987, the archbishop of Reimsconvinced an assembly of nobles to elect Hugh Capet as their king. He wascrowned King of France at Noyon, Picardie on July 3, 987, the first ofthe Capetian dynasty to rule France.

King Hugh possessed minor properties near Chartres and Anjou. BetweenParis and Orléans he possessed towns and estates amounting toapproximately 400 square miles. His authority ended there and if he daredtravel outside his small area, he risked being ransomed or even murdered.Beyond this power base, in the rest of France, there were still as manycodes of law as there were fiefdoms. The country operated with 150different forms of currency and at least a dozen languages. Uniting allthis into one cohesive unit was a formidable task and a constant strugglebetween those who wore the crown of France and its feudal lords. As such,Hugh Capet's reign was marked by numerous power struggles, both with theRoman Catholic Church and the vassals on the borders of the Seine and theLoire.

While King Hugh's military power was limited, and he had to seek militaryaid from the Duke of Normandy, his unanimous election as king gave himgreat moral authority and influence.

Hugh Capet married Adelaide of Aquitaine (952-1004). Their children were:

Avoise (970-1013)
Robert II (March 27, 972 - July 20, 1031)
Alice (974-1079)
Gilette (c.976 - ukn)
Gisele (c.978 - ukn)
King Hugh Capet died on October 24, 996 in Paris, and was interred in theSaint Denis Basilica. He was succeeded by his son, Robert II. Children were:

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Robert II the PIOUS , King of France.