Robert II, King de France
AKA: Robert II, Duke de Bourgogne.
Also Known As: Robert "Le Pieux".
Born: between 27 Mar 970 and 972 in Orleans, Loiret, Orleanais, France, son of Hughes II, King de France and Adelaide de Poitiers.
Marriage 1 Bertha BURGUNDY b: 957/961
Marriage 2 Constance of ARLES b: ABT 986 in Anjou, France
Married: 1003 in, France
Children
Henry I FRANCE b: 1008 in Bourgogne, France
Adele of FRANCE b: ABT 1009
Robert I BURGUNDY b: 1011 in, France
Constance FRANCE b: BEF 1017
Some sources indicate that Robert II was born in the year 972 while other indicate the date 27 March 970 which would make his birth some three months after his father, Hughes Capet's, marriage to his mother, Adelaide.
Married in 989: Rosela=Suzanne, Princess of Italy, daughter of Berenger II, King of Italy and Willa d'Arles.
It is considered a strange idea on the part of Hughes that his young son should marry a woman who was some 32-years [some say she was even 37 years] older than Robert. In 988, she had become the widow of Arnoul II de Flandre. She is quite pretty but has "troubling" black eyes, but most importantly, she brings as dowry Montreuil-sur-Mer. This will allow the capetian sovereigns to have access to the French Channel.
Repudiated: Rosela=Suzanne, Princess of Italy in 992 in France Robert II repudiated his wife because she was "an old woman", but he would keep the dowry of Montreuil-sur-Mer.
Note - between 996 and 1031: Robert II became King of France upon the death of his father on 24 October 996. In 1000, Angers is destroyed by fire. When the King's Uncle, Henri, Duke of Burgundy died without heir in 1002 {the same year Strasbourg is completey destroyed by fire), Otto-Guillaume, Count of Burgundy, supported by the Chatelains, and local prelats. wanted to expand his territories. But, King Robert would have none of it, claiming that the duchy should remain without the capetian family. With the help of the Abbe of Cluny and the Bishop of Autun, and also supported by the Duke of Normandie, King Robert undertook a veritable conquest of Burgundy which would last some 12 years. In 1002, Robert helped the Lombards to establish a King for themselves in the person of Arduin of Ivrea [d'Ivree] .
In 1015, Brunon, Bishop of Langres, and principal ally of the Count of Burgundy, dies, and Otto-Guillaume renders Hommage to the King. Robert gives the Duchy to his son, Henri, but it is in title only, as the King insists on keeping the power of the properties of the kingdom as well as their revenues. In the footsteps of his father, Robert II associates his eldest son, Hughes, to the throne in 1017. This really miffs the lords of the court who were hoping for an election. But it is Queen Constance herself, who sees to it that her son does not get the least lands as part of the deal.
In 1018, Poitiers and Beauvais both are ravaged by fire, and the next year Rouen and Chartres also are destroyed by fire. In 1023, Eudes II de Blois takes over the succession of Champagne. Thus, the next 200 years, Blois, Chartres and Champagne would be a constant menace to the scant royal properties. Though Robert "Le Pieux" and Henri II, Emperor of Germany worked toward peace, these efforts came to an end in 1024 upon the death of Henri II.
When Robert's eldest son, Hughes dies in 1026, Robert prepares his second son, who would be Henri I. Married in 997 in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Touraine, France: Princess Berthe de Bourgogne, daughter of Conrad I, King de Bourgogne and Mahaut=Mathilde, Princess de France; Robert had made Berthe, the beautiful widow of the Count of Anjou, his mistress in 996. But because it was better to sin a little bit than to sin a lot, he married her as King.
They are related in the third degree, and Robert is the godfather of one of Berthe's children. This spiritual relationship makes the marriage incestuous in the eyes of the Church. In 998, the Council, called by then Pope Gregory V, stipulates that Robert should leave Berthe forever, and do penance for 7 years in accordance with the laws of the Church. In the midst of the deliberations, Gregory V dies and is replaced by Pope Sylvester II who is none other than the Monk, Gerbert, ancient mentor of the King. However, while the pronouncement of an anathema is lifted, the excommunication is maintained.
In 1001, Robert concedes. Two years later, in 1003, he marries Constance. That same year on 7 February 1003, the old Queen Suzanne died. Repudiated: Princess Berthe de Bourgogne between 1001 and 1003. Married in 1003 in France: Constance de Provence, daughter of Guillaume I/II, Count de Provence and Adelais=Adele d'Anjou; Constance was Robert II's third wife. Constance would immediately satisfy Robert's needs for a male heir by giving him four boys, but her cruelty [when Constance spotted one of her mentors accused of heresy opn his way to the pyre to be burned alive, she stepped up to him and pierced one of his eyes with the pin of her corsage] and Southern ways would alienated and antagonize the Court.
The couple remained married beyond 1010, after Robert had been persuaded by Pope Sergius IV not to divorce Constance, but continued to quarrel until Robert's death. Hughes, their eldest son, was crowned in 1017, but died in 1025. The next son, Henry, was Robert's choice, but Constance favored their third son, Robert and fomented rebellions in his favor. Died: on 20 Jul 1031 in Meulun, Seine-et-Oise, Ile-de-France, France, Robert II is buried at Saint Denis.
King Robert II ("the Pious") of France 
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