EFL - Enciclopedia delle Famiglie Lombarde

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/LOTHARINGIA.htm CHARLES, son of LOUI S IV "d'Outremer" King of the Franks & his wife Gerberga of Germany (L aon summer 953-in prison Orléans 12 Jun 991, bur 1001 Maastricht, S t Servatius). Twin with his brother Henri. Flodoard records the birt h of twins to "Gerberga regina" in 953 "unus Karolus, alter Heinricus , sed Henricus mox post baptismum defunctus est" [1]. Flodoard record s war between "Karolum regis filium fratrem" and "Godefridum atque Arn ulfum, Lotharienses comites" in 975 [2]. Banished from the Frankish co urt after accusing Queen Emma of adultery with Adalbero Bishop of Lao n [3], he sought refuge at the court of Emperor Otto II who created hi m Duke of Lower Lotharingia in May 977 at Diedenhofen. The ''Gesta Epi scoporum Cameracensium'' record that "Karolum ducem, regis Lotharii fr atrem" had been granted Lotharingia by Emperor Otto [4]. During Empero r Otto's campaign against his brother King Lothaire, Duke Charles capt ured Laon in 978 and was proclaimed King of the Franks by Theudebert B ishop of Metz [5]. He claimed the French throne after the death of hi s brother in 986, and that of his nephew in 987. He captured Laon in [ May] 988, and Reims in [Aug/Sep] 989, thanks to his nephew Arnoul Arch bishop of Reims. He was captured at Laon 30 Mar 991 with his wife an d children and taken to Senlis. Richer records that "Karolum… cum ux ore Adelaide et filio Ludovico, et filiabus duabus, quarum altera Gerb erga, altera Adelaidis dicebatur, necnon et Arnulfo nepote" were impri soned [6]. From there, they were imprisoned by Hugues Capet King of Fr ance at Orléans, where he died [7]. "Otto… rex" donated property "V valbisci in comitatu Karoli comitis" to Quedlinburg by charter date d 6 Jan 992 [8]. It is assumed that this refers to Charles ex-Duke o f Lotharingia as no other Count Charles or Karl has been identified i n Germany at the time. If this is correct, the charter demonstrates th at Charles was still recognised with a title in Germany after his capt ure by the French, although this was "comes" rather than "dux". The ne crology of Liège Saint-Lambert records the death "X Kal Jul" of "Karo li ducis" [9]. Sigebert records that "Karolus dux" died in 991 and tha t "Otto filius eius" succeeded in the duchy of Lotharingia [10]. [1 ] Flodoard 953, MGH SS III, p. 402. [2] Flodoard (Continuator) 975, M GH SS III, p. 407. [3] McKitterick (1983), p. 325. See also Werner . K. F. 'Du nouveau sur un vieux thème: ''Les origines de la "nobless e" et de la "chevalerie"', Comptes rendus de l'Académie des inscripti ons et des belles-lettres'' (1985), p. 55, quoted in Settipani (1993) , p. 337 footnote 337. [4] ''Gesta Episcoporum Cameracensium'', MGH S S VII, p. 443. [5] Thietmar, p. 133, footnote 25, and McKitterick (19 83), p. 325. [6] Richeri Historiæ IV 49, MGH SS III, p. 642. [7] Se ttipani (1993), p. 337. [8] MGH Diplomata II, D O III 81, p. 489. [9 ] Marchandisse, A. (ed.) (1991) ''L'obituaire de la cathédrale Saint- Lambert de Liège'' (Brussels), p. 86. [10] Sigeberti ''Auctarium Aff ligemense'' 991, MGH SS VI, p. 353.