Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great,
d. 956, French duke; son of King Robert IRobert I,c.865–923, French king (922–23), son of Count Robert the Strong and younger brother of King Eudes. He inherited from Eudes the territory between the Seine and the Loire rivers.
..... Click the link for more information. and father of Hugh CapetHugh Capet
, c.938–996, king of France (987–96), first of the Capetians. He was the son of Hugh the Great, to whose vast territories he succeeded in 956. After the death of Louis V, last Carolingian king of France, the nobles and prelates elected him king, setting
..... Click the link for more information. . Excluded from the succession on his father's death by his brother-in-law RaoulRaoul
, d. 936, duke of Burgundy, king of France (923–36). Elected king to succeed his father-in-law, Robert I, Raoul fought the Normans and the Hungarians, who repeatedly invaded France.
..... Click the link for more information. , he supported the candidacy of Louis IVLouis IV
or Louis d'Outremer
[Fr.,=Louis from overseas], 921–54, French king (936–54), son of King Charles III (Charles the Simple). He spent his youth as an exile in England, but at the death of King Raoul he was recalled by the nobles under the leadership
..... Click the link for more information. , the Carolingian heir, after Raoul's death (936). Hugh hoped to rule through this weak king who had been raised in England. Louis IV attempted to increase his strength, however, and his reign was marked by warfare between king and vassal, in which Hugh, excommunicated (948) at the insistence of Louis, was forced to submit (950). Although Hugh never held the title of king, his vast possessions made him the virtual ruler of France.