Henry I, Duke of Burgundy
Henry I (946 – 15 October 1002), called the Great,[lower-alpha 1] was Duke of Burgundy from 965 to his death and Count of Nevers through his first marriage. He is sometimes known as Odo-Henry or Otto-Henry (in French Eudes-Henri), since his birth name was "Odo" and he only adopted "Henry" on being elected duke of Burgundy.
| Otto-Henry | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Burgundy | |
| Reign | 965 – 15 October 1002 |
| Predecessor | Otto |
| Successor | Otto-William |
| Born | c. 946 |
| Died | 15 October 1002 |
| Spouse | Gerberga m. 972 Gersenda m. before june 992 |
| Issue | Odo, viscount of Beaune |
| Father | Hugh the Great |
| Mother | Hedwig of Saxony |
Life
He was a younger son of Hugh the Great, Duke of the Franks, and Hedwig of Saxony and thus the younger brother of King Hugh Capet.[1] As Odo, he entered the church at a young age and was a cleric at the time of the death of his brother Otto, Duke of Burgundy, on 22 February 965.[2] He was elected by the Burgundian counts to succeed his brother and they gave him the name Henry. However Otto-Henry only held three counties of his own, his vassals holding the remaining six that comprised the core of that held by Richard the Justiciar who died in 921.[3]
In 978, Henry participated in the invasion of Lotharingia and the defence of Paris from a counter-raid.[4]
In 972, he married Gerberga, the widow of Adalbert II of Italy,[1] who had sought refuge at Autun. Through Gerberga, he had a stepson named Otto-William.[5] This marriage allowed Henry to rule the County of Nevers.[6]
He married a second time to Gersenda, daughter of William II of Gascony. As Henry had no child, Otto-William became a legitimate contender to inherit the Duchy of Burgundy. So did Henry's nephew, the king Robert II of France. This resulted.[7] in a war of succession (from 1003 to 1005) between Otto-William and Robert II. Otto-William eventually gave up the Duchy but kept in the Western Frankish Kingdom, the county of Mâcon, the county of Beaune and the advowson for the abbey of St-Benigne in Dijon.[8]
Family
Henry died without any sons of his own two wives.[1] He adopted Otto-William making him a possible heir of the Duchy of Burgundy.[9]
Odo-Henry had at least one illegitimate child by an unknown mother:
- Odo of Beaune († after August 25, 1005), viscount of Beaune.
Notes
- His nickname, Latin magnus, originally meant "the elder", and distinguished him from Duke Henry II.
References
- Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 10
- Jim Bradbury, The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328 (London, New York: Hambledon Continuum, 2007), p. 42
- Jim Bradbury, The Capetians: Kings of France, 987-1328 (London, New York: Hambledon Continuum, 2007), p. 62
- Dunbabin, Jean (2000). "West Francia: The Kingdom". In Reuter, Timothy (ed.). The New Cambridge Medieval History, Volume 3, c.900–c.1024. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 388. ISBN 978-1-13905572-7.
- Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 59
- Raphaël Bijard. "La construction de la Bourgogne Robertienne (936 - 1031)". Academia. pp. 48–52.
- Constance Brittain Bouchard, Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198 (New York: Cornell University Press, 1987), pp. 33, 265, 267 and 310.
- Raphaël Bijard. "La construction de la Bourgogne Robertienne (936 - 1031)". Academia. pp. 72–74.
- Constance Brittain Bouchard, Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198 (New York: Cornell University Press, 1987), pp. 33, 265, 267 and 310.
| Preceded by Otto |
Duke of Burgundy | Succeeded by Otto-William |