Adelaide of Aquitaine

Adelaide of Aquitaine
Queen consort of the Franks
Tenure	987–996
Born	c. 945/952
Died	1004
Spouse	Hugh Capet
Issue	Hedwig, Countess of Mons Robert II of France Gisèle, Countess of Ponthieu
House	House of Capet House of Poitiers
Father	William III of Aquitaine
Mother	Adele of Normandy

Adbelahide or Adele or Adelaide of Aquitaine (or Adelaide of Poitiers) (c. 945 or 952 – 1004),^[1] was queen consort of France by marriage to Hugh Capet.

Life

Adelaide was the daughter of William III, Duke of Aquitaine and Adele of Normandy, daughter of Rollo of Normandy. Her father used her as security for a truce with Hugh Capet, whom she married in 969.^[2]

In 987, after the death of Louis V, the last Carolingian king of France, Hugh was elected the new king with Adelaide as queen. They were proclaimed at Senlis and blessed at Noyon. They were the founders of the Capetian dynasty of France.

Hugh apparently trusted in her judgement and allowed her to take part in government: he proposed her to negotiate for him with the regent of the German Empire, empress Theophanu, committing himself beforehand to their agreement.^[3]

Children

Adeleide and Hugh's children were:

• Hedwig, Countess of Mons (or Hadevide, or Avoise) (c. 969–after 1013), wife of Reginar IV, Count of Mons
• Robert II (972–1031), the future king of France. Crowned co-king 987 in order to consolidate the new dynasty
• Gisèle, Countess of Ponthieu (c. 970–1002), wife of Hugh I, Count of Ponthieu

A number of other daughters are less reliably attested.

References