Robert I, Duke of Burgundy
Robert I Capet (
1011 –
March 21 1076) was
duke of Burgundy between
1032 to his death. Robert was son of King
Robert II of France and brother of
Henry I.
In
1025, with the death of his eldest brother Hugh Magnus, he and Henry rebelled against their father and defeated him, forcing him back to
Paris. In
1031, after the death of his father the king, Robert participated in a rebellion against his brother, in which he was supported by his mother, Queen
Constance d'Arles. Peace was only achieved when Robert was given Burgundy (
1032).
Throughout his reign, he was little more than a
robber baron who had no control over his own vassals, whose estates he often plundered, especially those of the Church. He seized the income of the diocese of
Autun and the wine of the canons of
Dijon. He burgled the abbey of St-Germain at
Auxerre. In
1055, he repudiated his wife, Helie of Semur, and assassinated her brother Joceran and murdered her father, his father-in-law, Lord
Dalmace I of Semur, with his own hands. In that same year, the
bishop of
Langres, Harduoin, refused to dedicate the church of
Sennecy so as not "to be exposed to the violence of the duke."
His first son, Hugh, died in battle at a young age and his second son,
Henry, also predeceased him. He was succeeded by Henry's eldest son, his grandson,
Hugh I.
He married his first wife, Helie of Semur, about
1033, and repudiated her in 1055. Robert and Helie had five children:#Hugh (1034–1059), killed in battle#
Henry (1035–ca.1074)#Robert (1040–1113), poisoned; married Violante of Sicily, daughter of
Roger I of Sicily#Simon (1045–1087)#
Constance (1046–1093), married
Alfonso VI of Castile*From his second wife, Ermengarde of Anjou, daughter of
Fulk III of Anjou, he had one daughter:#Hildegard (c.1056–1104), married Duke
William VIII of Aquitaine*
Dukes of Burgundy family tree*
Gwatking, H. M.,
Whitney, J. P., et al.
Cambridge Medieval History: Volume IIIā"Germany and the Western Empire.
Cambridge University Press:
London,
1930.
