Judith of Francië

Female 844 - 870  (26 years)


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  • Name Judith of Francië 
    Birth 844 
    Gender Female 
    Death 870 
    Siblings 2 siblings 
    Person ID I2503  Database
    Last Modified 23 Apr 2017 

    Father Charles the Bald (de Kale),   b. 823   d. 877 (Age 54 years) 
    Mother Ermentrude of Orléans,   b. 830   d. 869 (Age 39 years) 
    Family ID F1048  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Spouse / Partner 1 Aethelwulf Wessex, King of Saxons,   b. 800, Wessex, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Jan 858, Warfield, Berkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 58 years) 
    Marriage 1 Oct 856  Verberie, Picardie, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1047  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2016 

    Spouse / Partner 2 Boudewijn I of Flanders,   b. 840   d. 879 (Age 39 years) 
    Marriage 13 Dec 863  Auxerre, Bourgogne, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
       1. Male Baldwin II the Bald (de Kale),   b. 865   d. 918 (Age 53 years)
    Family ID F1528  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Feb 2016 

    Spouse / Partner 3 Ethelbald of Wessex, King Of Wessex,   b. 834   d. 860 (Age 26 years) 
    Family ID F1529  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 12 Feb 2016 

  • Notes 
    • Judith (ca. 844-na 870), was eerst gehuwd met twee Engelse koningen (Ethelwulf en Ethelbald van Wessex) en leefde als weduwe aan het hof van haar vader. Werd daar in 861 (ze was dus nog geen 20 jaar oud) geschaakt door Boudewijn I van Vlaanderen. Karel wendde al zijn invloed aan om te voorkomen dat ze ergens onderdak zouden krijgen. Uiteindelijk vluchtten Judith en Boudewijn naar Rome, waarna de paus een verzoening wist te bemiddelen.

      Judith of Flanders (or Judith of Francië) 844-870)
      Judith of Flanders (or Judith of France) was the eldest daughter of the Frankish King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald and his wife Ermentrude of Orléans.

      In 855 King Æthelwulf of Wessex made a pilgrimage to Rome, and on his way back in 856 he stayed at the court of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles the Bald. In July Aethelwulf became engaged to Charles's daughter, Judith, who was no more than 12, while Aethelwulf was about 51 years old. On 1 October 856 they were married at Verberie in northern France. The marriage was a diplomatic alliance. Both men were suffering from Viking attacks, and for Aethelwulf the marriage had the advantage of associating him with Carolingian prestige. In Wessex it was not customary for kings' wives to be queens, but Charles insisted that his daughter be crowned queen.

      Aethelwulf died on 13 January 858. He was succeeded by his son Aethelbald, who married the 14 year old Queen Judith, his step-mother. Probably to enhance his status because she was the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor. The marriage was condemned by all who heard of it, since it was against God's prohibition and Christian dignity, and also contrary to the practice of all pagans, to take over a father's marriage bed.
      Judith, at 16, was still childless when Aethelbald died in 860, after a reign of two and a half years.

      Following Aethelbald's death, Judith sold her properties in England and returned to France. Her father sent her to the Monastery at Senlis. Charles may have intended to arrange another marriage for her. However, around Christmas 861, Judith eloped with Baldwin, later Count of Flanders. The two were likely married at the monastery of Senlis and stayed at the Rumbeke castle. The annals of that time depict Judith not as the passive victim of bride theft but as an active agent, eloping at the instigation of Baldwin and apparently with her brother Louis the Stammerer's consent.

      Unsurprisingly, Judith's father was furious and ordered his bishops to excommunicate the couple. They later fled to the court of Judith's cousin Lothair II of Lotharingia for protection, before going to Pope Nicholas I to plead their case. The Pope took diplomatic action and asked Judith's father to accept the union as legally binding and welcomethe young couple into his circle - which ultimately he did. The couple then returned to France and were officially married at Auxerre in 863.

      Baldwin was given the land directly south of the Scheldt, i.e.: the Country of Flanders to ward off Viking attacks. Baldwin managed the situation remarkably well. He succeeded in quelling the Viking threat, expanded both his army and his territory quickly, and became a faithfulsupporter of King Charles.

      Judith died in 870, when she was approximately 26 years old. She had3 children with Baldwin:
      • Charles (863 - died young)
      • Baldwin II (865 - 918). Succeeded his father as Count of Flanders. Married princess Aelfthryth
      • Raoul (869 - 896). Became Count of Cambrai around 888, and was killed by Herbert I of Vermandois

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 1 Oct 856 - Verberie, Picardie, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 13 Dec 863 - Auxerre, Bourgogne, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth