Constance of Arles

986 - 1032  (~ 46 years)

• Name	Constance of Arles
  Born	About 986  [1, 2, 5]
  General Information	She was also known as Constance of Provence, and Constance of Toulouse.  [4]
  Miscellaneous	998 (Age 12)  [5]
  Constance was married in 998 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 Provençal kinfolk and customs. Robert's friend, Hugh of Beauvais, count palatine, tried to convince the king to repudiate her in 1007. Possibly at her request 12 knights of her kinsman Fulk Nerra then murdered Beauvais in 1008.
  Travel	1010 (Age 24)  [5]
  Robert went to Rome in 1010, 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."
  Miscellaneous	1017 (Age 31)  [5]
  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. The royal couple was devastated; there was concern for the queen’s mental health due to the violence of her grief.
  Legal	1022 (Age 36)  [5]
  In 1022, a trial accused clergy members of heresy--Constance's previous confessor Stephen included, 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.
  Miscellaneous	1027 (Age 41)  [5]
  Robert and Constance quarreled 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".
  Miscellaneous	say 1028 (Age 42)  [5]
  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.
  Miscellaneous	1031 (Age 45)  [5]
  King Robert died on 20 July 1031. Soon afterwards Constance fell ill; she was at also 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.
  Died	25 Jul 1032	Meulan-en-Yvelines, Yvelines, Île-de-France, France   [1, 2, 4]
  Constance died after passing out following a coughing fit. [5]
  Buried	—	Basilica of Saint-Denis, St. Denis, Île-de-France, France   [2, 5]
  	Effigy of Robert II and his wife Constance of Arles
  Siblings	3 Siblings
  1. William II, Count of Provence and Arles,   b. 983 - 984,   d. After 30 May 1018  (Age 34 years) ▻ Gerberge,  m. Abt 1002 + 2. Ermengarde ▻ Robert I, Count of Auverne + 3. Constance of Arles,   b. About 986,   d. 25 Jul 1032, Meulan-en-Yvelines, Yvelines, Île-de-France, France  (Age ~ 46 years) ▻ Robert II "the Pious", King of France,  m. 998   4. Toda of Provence ▻ Bernard I Tallaferro, Count of Besalu,  m. 992
  Person ID	I2988	| Roy Line, Boudreau Line
  Last Modified	30 Jan 2022

  
  

  Father	William I, Count of Provence and Arles,   b. About 955,   d. 994, Avignon, Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France  (Age ~ 39 years)
  Mother	Adelaide of Anjou,   b. About 942,   d. 1026  (Age ~ 84 years)
  Married	After 981
  Age at Marriage	William was est 27 years - Adelaide was est 40 years. (Were Married est 12 years).
  Family ID	F2378	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Robert II "the Pious", King of France,   b. 27 Mar 972, Orléans, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France ,   d. 20 Jul 1031, Meulan-en-Yvelines, Yvelines, Île-de-France, France  (Age 59 years)
  Married	998  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Age at Marriage	Constance was est 12 years - Robert was est 25 years. (Were Married est 33 years).
  Children	6 children
  + 1. Princess Adele of France,   b. Abt 1003, France ,   d. 8 Jan 1078  (Age ~ 75 years)   2. Hugh Magnus, King of France,   b. 1007,   d. 17 Sep 1025, Compiègne, Oise, Hauts-de-France, France  (Age 18 years) + 3. Henry I, King of France,   b. Apr 1008, Burgundy, France ,   d. 4 Aug 1060, Vitry-en-Brie (now Vitry-sur-Seine), Île-de-France, France  (Age ~ 52 years) + 4. Adelaide of France, Princess of France,   b. 1009,   d. 8 Jun 1078  (Age 69 years) + 5. Robert III "the Old", Duke of Burgundy, Prince of France,   b. Abt 1011,   d. 21 Mar 1076, Fleury-sur-Ouche, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France  (Age ~ 65 years) + 6. Constance, Princess of France
  Last Modified	30 Jan 2022
  Family ID	F2372	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Child - Princess Adele of France - Abt 1003 - France Child - Henry I, King of France - Apr 1008 - Burgundy, France Died - 25 Jul 1032 - Meulan-en-Yvelines, Yvelines, Île-de-France, France Buried - — - Basilica of Saint-Denis, St. Denis, Île-de-France, France  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Constance of Arles

  
  

• Sources

  [S65] Sewell, Robert James. Sewell: A History of the Sewell Family from the Earliest Times, (unknown: manuscript, March 2008). [S60] Stuart, Roderick W. Royalty for Commoners, The Complete Known Lineage of John of Gaunt, Son of Edward III, King of England, and Queen Philippa Fourth Edition, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002). [S63] von Redlisch, Marcellus Donald Alexander R. Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants volume 1 , (Cottonport, Louisiana: Order of the Crown of Charlemagne, 1941). [S59] Weis, Frederick Lewis. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 Fifth Editionif, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982). [S304] Wikipedia, Constance of Arles.