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Philippe I, King of France 1060-1067-1108,
(1052-1108)
son of Henri I, King of France 1031-1060 and Anna of Kiev
Born before 23 May 1052
Died 29 July 1108 Meulan
Married 1072 Div.1092
Bertha van Holland
Died 1093
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At age twenty, Philippe I, King of France, married Bertha of Holland,
the step-daughter of his first cousin. This marriage had been arranged
to seal the reconciliation between the king and his first cousin, the Count
of Flanders. However, it took Bertha about six years before she produced
a daughter, Constance, which was not the hoped-for heir. Arnoul, a holy
hermit of Saint-Medard in Soissons who was always consulted on family problems,
prayed to heaven; however, it still took another three years before the
heir, the future King Louis VI, was born. He was followed by three more
sons.
Twenty years after the marriage, Philippe imprisoned Bertha in comfort
in the chateau at Montreuil-sur-Mer. He then wed the still-married Bertrade
de Montfort l'Amauri, wife of the Count of Anjou, and they produced four
children. It is lost in time whether she seduced
him or he her, but most likely Philippe had an understanding with the
Count of Anjou. In any case Betrade was more than willing as she did not
want to be "sent away like a whore," as her husband had done to her predecessors.
Philippe's remarriage caused a sensation but not disapproval. The only
one who caused problems was Yves, bishop of Chartres, who had been
appointed by Pope Urban II without consultations with Philippe and this
had been resented by the latter. The king had invited all bishops to his
second wedding but Yves declined, referring to Philippe as committing bigamy.
Although Philippe had married with the blessing of the Archbishop of Reims
as well as the Papal legate, Yves wrote to the Pope who then forbade the
bishops to crown Bertrade and told Philippe to cease all relations with
her or else be excommunicated.
Next, Bertha, his first wife, died and Philippe gathered two archbishops
and eight bishops in Reims who all confirmed the royal second marriage.
The Pope also put pressure on the womanising Count of Anjou who then obediently
complained about the king's committing
adultery with his wife. In 1096 Philippe pretended to have broken with
Bertrade and consequently the excommunication was lifted.
However, when it became obvious in 1099 that Bertrade was still with
him, the excommunication was renewed. It took until 1105 before peace was
restored and from then on Philippe and Bertrade remained together till
Philippe died in 1108.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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