Son of Hedwig of Saxony, niece of Otton 1st, and of Hugh the Great, Frank Hugh is nicknamed Capet, in reference to the mantle of Saint Martin preserved in the abbey of the same name where he was a lay abbot (i.e. say a layman running an abbey). Supported by the Archbishop of Reims, Adalbéron, he was elected king during an assembly on 1
st
July 987, by the Great, the lords of the kingdom of the Franks. He is preferred to the heir to the Carolingian dynasty, Charles de Basse-Lotharingie, dit Charles de Lorraine.
Hugues Capet's ancestry is prestigious:he inherited the title of "Duke of the Franks" in 960 , and his powerful vassals (who owe him obedience in exchange for his protection) are none other than the Count of Anjou, the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Normandy. His coronation took place on July 3, 987 in the cathedral of Noyon.
But his kingdom was not large and the surrounding lords were powerful. Hugues must negotiate but also fight against Charles of Lorraine (whom he will imprison in 991) and other enemies (Otton II, Otton III) and in particular various vassals (Eudes de Blois, etc.). He remained king of the Franks from 987 until his death in 996. During his reign, agricultural progress contributed to the prosperity of the country. By only having his eldest son, Robert II, crowned during his lifetime (987), Hugues Capet ensured a hereditary filiation and avoided the fragmentation of the kingdom. Thus was born the elective and hereditary Capetian dynasty through male primogeniture (i.e. first born son) which would last for many centuries and ensure the extent and solidity of the kingdom.
941 - 996
Status
Head of State
King of the Franks