Constance DE ARLES

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• FamilySearch ID: LDSS-6H5
• House: ; Capet
• Name: Constance D'ARLES
• Name: Constance De TOULOUSE
• Name: Constance of Provence
• _UID: D2E9A6231546428D90B12A0A455179619308
• Title: 1000; Queen of France
• Title (Nobility): Between 1003 and 1031; Queen consort of The Franks
• Occupation: 1003; Reine des francs

Notes:

In 1003 Robert submitted to the pope and married the daughter of the marquis of Provence, Constance of Arles, by whom he had four sons. He recognized Hugh, the eldest of these sons, as his successor. After Hugh's death in 1025, the other sons, aided by their mother, revolted; Robert was still fighting them at the time of his own death.

Constance of Arles (c. 986 - 28 July 1032), also known as Constance of Provence, was a queen consort of France as the third spouse of King Robert II of France.

Life
Born c.?986 Constance was the daughter of William I, count of Provence and Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou, daughter of Fulk II of Anjou. She was the half-sister of Count William II of Provence. Constance was married to King Robert, after his divorce from his second wife, Bertha of Burgundy. The marriage was stormy; Bertha's family opposed her, and Constance was despised for importing her Proven?al kinfolk and customs. Robert's friend, Hugh of Beauvais, tried to convince the king to repudiate her in 1007. Possibly at her request twelve knights of her kinsman, Fulk Nerra, then murdered Beauvais.

In 1010 Robert went to Rome, followed by his former wife Bertha, to seek permission to divorce Constance and remarry Bertha. Pope Sergius IV was not about to allow a consanguineous marriage which had been formally condemned by Pope Gregory V and Robert had already repudiated two wives. So the request was denied. After his return according to one source Robert "loved his wife more."

In the famous trial in 1022 of members of the clergy, including Constance's previous confessor Stephen, on charges of heresy Robert had his wife Queen Constance stand at the door to prevent any mob violence. However, as the condemned clerics left the trial the queen "struck out the eye of Stephen... with the staff which she carried". This was seen as Constance venting her frustration at anyone subverting the prestige of the crown.

At Constance's urging, her eldest son Hugh Magnus was crowned co-king alongside his father in 1017. But later Hugh demanded his parents share power with him, and rebelled against his father in 1025. Constance, however, on learning of her son's rebellion was furious with him, rebuking him at every turn. At some point Hugh was reconciled with his parents but shortly thereafter died, probably about age eighteen.

Robert and Constance quarrelled over which of their surviving sons should inherit the throne; Robert favored their second son Henry, while Constance favored their third son, Robert. Despite his mother's protests and her support by several bishops, Henry was crowned in 1027. Constance, however, was not graceful when she didn't get her way. The ailing Fulbert, bishop of Chartres told a colleague that he could attend the ceremony "if he traveled slowly to Reims but he was too frightened of the queen to go at all".

Constance encouraged her sons to rebel, and they began attacking and pillaging the towns and castles belonging to their father. Son Robert attacked Burgundy, the duchy he had been promised but had never received, and Henry seized Dreux. At last King Robert agreed to their demands and peace was made which lasted until the king's death.

King Robert died on 20 July 1031. Soon afterwards Constance was at odds with both her surviving sons. Constance seized her dower lands and refused to surrender them. Henry fled to Normandy, where he received aid, weapons and soldiers from his brother Robert. He returned to besiege his mother at Poissy but Constance escaped to Pontoise. She only surrendered when Henry began the siege of Le Puiset and swore to slaughter all the inhabitants.

Constance died 28 July 1032. and was buried beside her husband Robert at Saint-Denis Basilica.

Constance married Robert II "The Pious", King Of France in 1001. Robert (son of King Hugues CAPET, of France and Adelaide (Aelis) Of Poitou DE POITOU, Princess Of Aquitaine) was born on 27 Mar 972 in Orl?ans, Loiret, France; died on 20 Jul 1031 in Melun Castle, Melun, Aquitaine, France; was buried in Basilica of Saint Denis, Paris, ?le-de-France, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
NOTE MARRIED

1. Hedwige DE FRANCE was born before Nov 1005 in Nevers, Ni?vre, Burgundy, France; died after 5 Jun 1063 in Nevers, Ni?vre, Burgundy, France.
2. Henri CAPET, King Of the Franks was born on 4 May 1008 in Reims, Champagne, France; was christened on 23 May 1008 in Reims, Champagne, France; died on 4 Aug 1060 in Vitry, Brie, France; was buried in 1060 in Basilica of Saint Denis, Paris, ?le-de-France, France.
3. Ad?le CAPET, Comtesse de Flandre was born on 3 May 1009 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees, France; was christened on 21 May 1009 in Paris, ?le-de-France, France; died on 8 Jan 1079 in Mesen, West Flanders, Belgium; was buried on 8 Jan 1079 in Monast?re de L'Ordre de Saint Benoist, Messines, France.
4. Princess Adele (Alix) De FRANCE was born on 3 May 1009 in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Occitanie, France; was christened on 21 May 1009 in Paris, ?le-de-France, France; died on 8 Jan 1097 in Messines, France.
5. Robert, III, Duc de Bourgogne was born on 23 Aug 1011 in Meulan, Yvelines, ?le-de-France, France; died on 18 Mar 1076 in Fleury-sur Ouche, Dijon, C?tes d'Or, Bourgogne, France; was buried on 21 Mar 1076 in Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, Burgundy, France.
6. Eudo Odes Prince of FRANCE was born in 1013 in Germigny-des-Pr?s, Centre, France; was christened in 1013 in Germigny-des-Pr?s, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France; died in 1057 in Auxerre, Yonne, Bourgogne, France.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L133-HLP

Guillaume married Queen of Aquitaine Adelaise D'ANJOU. Adelaise was born in 946 in Anjou, now, Pays de la Loire, France; died on 29 May 1026 in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence-Alpes-C?te d'Azur, France; was buried in Arles, Bouches-du-Rh?ne, Provence-Alpes-C?te d'Azur, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: KH8N-T92