Hedwig of Saxony
| Hedwige of Saxony | |
|---|---|
 Hedwige of Saxony | |
| Spouse(s) | Hugh the Great |
|
Issue | |
| Noble family | Liudolfing |
| Father | Henry I the Fowler |
| Mother | Matilda |
| Born | c. 910 |
| Died | 10 May 965 |
Hedwige of Saxony (also Hedwig, Hadwig) (c. 910 – May 10, 965) was a regent of the Franks during the minority of her son. She was a member of the Ottonian dynasty and a descendant of Charlemagne. She was married to Hugh the Great. Their son, Hugh Capet was the founder of the Capetian dynasty.
Life
Hedwig was a younger daughter of Henry I the Fowler, and his second wife Matilda. Her siblings were Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor; Henry I, Duke of Bavaria; Gerberga of Saxony; and Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne.
After her brother Otto I came to power, an alliance and marriage was arranged with Hugh the Great. Hedwig was Hugh's third wife. They married c. 936/8. With Hugh, Hedwig had the following children:
- Hugh Capet, who was crowned King of France in 987.
- Emma (945–968), who married Richard I, Duke of Normandy in 960.
- Otto, Duke of Burgundy (945–965)
- Henry I, Duke of Burgundy (948–1002)
When Hedwig's husband died in 956, her son Hugh Capet was still underage. Although Hugh inherited his father's estates, he did not rule independently from the beginning.[1] Along with her brother, Bruno, Hedwig acted as Hugh's regent until he came of age.[2]
References
- W. Glocker, Die Verwandten der Ottonen und ihre Bedeutung in der Politik. Studien zur Familienpolitik und zur Genealogie des sächsischen Kaiserhauses (1989).
- J. Michelet, History of France, Vol. I, trans. G. H. Smith (New York: D. Appleton, 1882).
- P. Riché, The Carolingians; A Family Who Forged Europe, trans. Michael Idomir Allen (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993).
Notes
External links
- Medieval Lands Project
- Hadwig von Sachsen (in German)