Biography of Robert "Pious" II King France 972-1031

In or before 968 [his father] Hugh I King France (age 26) and [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 22) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] William "Towhead" III Duke Aquitaine and [his grandmother] Gerloc aka Adela Normandy Duchess Aquitaine. He the son of [his grandfather] Hugh "Great" Capet Count Paris and [his grandmother] Hedwig Saxon Ottonian.

On 27 Mar 972 Robert "Pious" II King France was born to Hugh I King France (age 31) and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 27) at Orléans.

Around 983 Odo Blois I Count Blois (age 33) and [his future wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. She the daughter of Conrad I King Burgundy (age 58) and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy (age 40). He the son of Theobald "Trickster" Blois I Count Blois and Luitgarde Vermandois Duchess Normandy.

Before 30 Mar 987 Arnulf II Count Flanders (age 27) and [his future wife] Rozala of Italy (age 37) were married. She by marriage Countess Flanders. He the son of Baldwin III Count Flanders and Matilda Billung Countess Flanders (age 47).

In 988 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 15) and Rozala of Italy (age 38) were married. They separated around the time of coronation. The difference in their ages was 22 years; she, unusually, being older than him. He the son of Hugh I King France (age 47) and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 43).

On 24 Oct 996 [his father] Hugh I King France (age 55) died. His son Robert (age 24) succeeded II King France: Capet.

In 999 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 26) and Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 35) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. They separated sometime before 1003 as a consequence of their consanguinity. She the daughter of Conrad I King Burgundy and Mathilde Carolingian Queen Consort Burgundy. He the son of Hugh I King France and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 54). They were second cousins.

In 1003 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 30) and Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 17) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort of France. She the daughter of William "Liberator" Arles 1st Count Provence 1st Count Arles and Adelaide Blanche Ingelger Queen Consort West Francia (age 63). He the son of Hugh I King France and Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 58).

Around 1003 [his daughter] Hedwig Capet Couness Nevers was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 30) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 17).

In 1003 [his wife] Rozala of Italy (age 53) died.

Around 1004 [his step-son] Odo Blois II Count Blois (age 21) and Maud Normandy Countess Blois were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. She the daughter of Richard "Fearless" Normandy I Duke Normandy and Gunnora Countess Ponthieu. He the son of Odo Blois I Count Blois and [his wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 40).

In 1004 [his mother] Adelaide Poitiers Queen Consort France (age 59) died.

On 11 Jul 1004 [his step-son] Theobald Blois II Count Blois (age 19) died. His brother [his step-son] Odo (age 21) succeeded II Count Blois.

On 21 Jul 1006 [his sister-in-law] Gisela Welf Duchess Bavaria died.

In 1007 [his son] Hugh Magnus Capet was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 34) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 21).

In 1007 [his step-son] Odo Blois II Count Blois (age 24) and Ermengarde Auvergne Countess Blois (age 37) were married. She by marriage Countess Blois. He the son of Odo Blois I Count Blois and [his wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 43).

On 04 May 1008 [his son] King Henry I of France was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 36) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 22) at Reims.

In 1009 [his daughter] Adela Capet Duchess Normandy was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 36) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 23).

On 16 Jan 1010 [his wife] Bertha Welf Queen Consort France (age 46) died.

In 1011 [his son] Robert I Duke Burgundy was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 38) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 25).

In 1014 [his daughter] Constance Capet was born to Robert "Pious" II King France (age 41) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 28).

On 25 Jan 1016 [his son-in-law] Renauld I Count of Nevers (age 11) and [his daughter] Hedwig Capet Couness Nevers (age 13) were married. She the daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France (age 43) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 30).

Around 30 May 1018 [his brother-in-law] William "Pious" Arles 2nd Count Provence (age 37) died. His son William succeeded 4th Count Provence. His son Fulk succeeded 1st Count Provence. Hildegard Countess Provence by marriage Countess Provence.

On 17 Sep 1025 [his son] Hugh Magnus Capet (age 18) died at Compiègne, Oise.

In 1028 [his son-in-law] Baldwin "The Good" V Count Flanders (age 15) and [his daughter] Adela Capet Duchess Normandy (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France (age 55) and [his wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 42). He the son of [his former step-son] Baldwin "Bearded" IV Count Flanders (age 48) and Ogive Luxemburg Countess Flanders.

On 20 Jul 1031 Robert "Pious" II King France (age 59) died at Melun, Seine et Marne. His son [his son] Henry (age 23) succeeded I King France: Capet.

In 1034 [his former wife] Constance Arles Queen Consort France (age 48) died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24 Dec 1643. On Christmas eve, I went to see the Cathedral at Nôtre Dame [Map], erected by Philip Augustus, but begun by King Robert, son of [his father] Hugh Capet. It consists of a Gothic fabric, sustained with 120 pillars, which make two aisles in the church round about the choir, without comprehending the chapels, being 174 paces long, 60 wide, and 100 high. The choir is inclosed with stonework graven with the sacred history, and contains forty-five chapels chancelled with iron. At the front of the chief entrance are statues in relievo of the kings, twenty-eight in number, from Childebert to the founder, Philip; and above them are two high square towers, and another of a smaller size, bearing a spire in the middle, where the body of the church forms a cross. The great tower is ascended by 389 steps, having twelve galleries from one to the other. They greatly reverence the crucifix over the screen of the choir, with an image of the Blessed Virgin. There are some good modern paintings hanging on the pillars. The most conspicuous statute is the huge colossal one of St. Christopher; with divers other figures of men, houses, prospects and rocks, about this gigantic piece; being of one stone, and more remarkable for its bulk than any other perfection. This is the prime church of France for dignity, having archdeacons, vicars, canons, priests, and chaplains in good store, to the number of 127. It is also the palace of the archbishop. The young king was there with a great and martial guard, who entered the nave of the church with drums and fifes, at the ceasing of which I was entertained with the church music; and so I left him.