Conrad I. Germans. 824-987 even the place where the event happened is not known. It should seem as if there were some reason for their reticence. The male lineage of 911-917 Charlemagne in this branch being thus extinKing of the guished, CONRAD, the son of Glismonda and Conrad of Franconia, quietly established himself upon the Throne. The country was in such a state of exhaustion, that clergy, nobles and people in general cared not either to assent or to dissent when Extinction Conrad was proposed by his partizans. The Carlovingian lovingian supremacy in Germany expired; and, dignity. after many vicissitudes, the Imperial dignity was re-settled into the new form of that organization whose style involves an irreconcileable contradiction in terms, the so called "Holy Roman Empire.” of the Car Imperial 840-877 Charles-le § 53. We now revert to the youngest branch Chauve and of the dying Carlovingian race, in which the dren. struggle for existence was longest maintained. his chil The first wife of CHARLES-LE-CHAUVE, the first king of France, was Ermentruda, the daughter of Eudo Count of Orleans, pious and affectionate, seeking to be a peacemaker, but unrequited by her husband's love. Charles longed for her death, and that death enabled him to espouse RICHILDA, with whom he had previously cohabited. This lady, concubine and Queen, was sister or half-sister of Boso (the husband of Her mengarda), who by this marriage therefore be- 824-987 came brother-in-law to the King. Unhappy in his kingdom, more unhappy in his family, scarcely able to defend himself against the perfidious attacks of his brother Louis, Charles-le-Chauve was the assailant, in his turn, of all his nephews and great nephews, being also involved in harassing dissensions with his own children. He had eight sons, four by Ermentruda, four by Richilda,-all sons of bitterness or sorrow. 840-877 LOUIS-LE-BÉGUE, the eldest son, stammered Louis-leBégue died exceedingly, a great hinderance, the faculty of 879. addressing his warriors being no less needful to a King than the power of vaulting on his steed. Charles interfered with the affections of Louis, provoking him to disobedience; and Louis became a discontented and grudging son, crossing his father's intentions, and courting and supporting his father's enemies. King of The second son, CHARLES, was appointed King of Aquitaine by his father. Bold, ambitious and able, he, during his short life, repeatedly rebelled against his parent, and brought on his own death by an idle frolic. Returning late in Charles the evening from a hunting party, heated perhaps Aquitaine by the cups of Bordeaux wine, he boyishly entered into a scuffle with his companions, youths like himself, one of whom, Alboin, not recognizing him in the dark, angrily struck him on the head died 868. 824-987 with a sword. The blow was not immediately fatal; but Charles became insane, and lingered painfully during two years before he died. Lothair died 886. 851-873. Carloman LOTHAIR, the third son, was born lame and unhealthy humble, affectionate, diligent and pious, his disposition was excellent. Nominated Abbot of Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, he died at an early age. CARLOMAN, the fourth son, was also comdied 866. pelled by his father to take Orders. Very ample preferment was bestowed upon him the Abbey of Saint Médard, Saint Riquier or Centulla, Lombes and many others: thereby exciting great scandal. This misappropriation was most unfortunate to all parties. Carloman would not be contented: he teased his father, cheated him, conspired, rebelled, and, being tried for his treasons, was condemned to lose his eyes. Charles-leChauve sanctioned the execution of his sentence, and it was so far mercifully carried into effect as not to kill the victim. The poor blinded wretch was harboured by his uncle Louis-le-Germanique, and maintained in a monastery out of charity. He died childless. The four above mentioned were Ermentruda's sons. By Richilda, that loved Richilda, Charlesle-Chauve had four more-Pepin, Drogo, a second Louis and a second Charles, all of whom died young or infants: the last, when his parents were in great distress.-Charles-le-Chauve had several daughters: all became Abbesses except Judith, an undutiful girl of ungovernable passions, whose first husband was Ethelwulf, king Alfred's father. After his death, she contracted a scandalous marriage with her step-son king Ethelbald. Of her third husband, Baldwin the Forester, we shall speak fully hereafter. 824-987 841 Judith. Louis-le his chil (see Chap. § 54. LOUIS-LE-BÉGUE inherited his father's 877-929 dominions in early life he had been much at- Bégue and tached to Ansgarda, sister of a Burgundian Count, dren. Eudes or Odo. Charles-le-Chauve refused his ìv.) assent to this union, wishing to effect a Statealliance between Louis and a Breton (or Breyzad) princess. Louis, therefore, espoused Ansgarda clandestinely, but was compelled by his father to divorce her, and she was defamed as a concubine. The projected match with the betrothed daughter of the Armorican king Herispoë failed, and Louis then married an Adeliza or princess, named JUDITH, whose lineage cannot be determined: this marriage was also of doubtful validity. 879. LOUIS-LE-BÉGUE, sickening about the time of 10 April, his accession, never recovered his health, but Louis-leBéguedied. lingered and died before he had attained the age of thirty-four years, or completed the second of his reign. By Ansgarda he had two children, Louis and CARLOMAN, who succeeded to their father's dominions, and reigned jointlyboth most promising youths, singularly affec * 936-987 824-987 tionate to each other, both valiant, both bitterly assailed by their cousin Louis the Saxon, who contested their title, and both died childless; Louis, the eldest, first, and Carloman two years Louis III. after, cut off by violent deaths, caused through Carloman their own rashness or imprudence-they threw their lives away. died 882, died 884. in the first Charles-le Chap. IV. CHARLES, whose honesty earned for him the epithet of "LE-SIMPLE," Son of Louis-le-Bégue by the Adeliza Judith, a posthumous child, struggled bravely, but unsuccessfully against treachery and Charles-le- misfortune. Excluded in the first instance from Simple excluded the succession by his ambitious uncle Charlesinstance by le-Gras, he was compelled to yield to EUDES Gras. (see CAPET, who assumed the royal title. Charles § 21.) had also to contest the throne with ROBERT Duke (See § 59.) of France the brother of Eudes. Supposed to have been thrice married, Charles had two children. Historical theory cannot decide whether the first consort was wife or concubine, and there is much obscurity concerning Frederuna, the second. The third was Elfgiva, or Eadgiva, the daughter of our Edward the Elder. By the unknown companion of his bed, Charles had the daughter who was given to Rollo,—GISELLA, a name not unfrequent in the Frankish genealogies, yet somewhat perplexing, inasmuch as it may possibly be only an epithet or a by-name-perhaps Gesellin, a companion, or perhaps Gisle, or Gisla, a hostage, or pledge of friendship or love. |