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Birth:          ABT  975 
Death:          28 Jul 1032 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_of_Arles
Constance of Arles (c. 986 – 28 July 1032), also known as Constance of Provence, 
was a queen consort of France as the third spouse of King Robert II of France.
Life[edit]

Born c.?986[1] Constance was the daughter of William I, count of Provence and 
Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou, daughter of Fulk II of Anjou.[2] She was the half-sister of 
Count William II of Provence.[2] Constance was married to King Robert, after his 
divorce from his second wife, Bertha of Burgundy.[3] The marriage was stormy; 
Bertha's family opposed her, and Constance was despised for importing her Provençal 
kinfolk and customs. Robert's friend, Hugh of Beauvais, tried to convince the king to 
repudiate her in 1007. Possibly at her request twelve knights of her kinsman, Fulk 
Nerra, then murdered Beauvais.[4]

In 1010 Robert went to Rome, followed by his former wife Bertha, to seek permission 
to divorce Constance and remarry Bertha. Pope Sergius IV was not about to allow a 
consanguineous marriage which had been formally condemned by Pope Gregory V and 
Robert had already repudiated two wives. So the request was denied. After his return 
according to one source Robert "loved his wife more."[5]

In the famous trial in 1022 of members of the clergy, including Constance's previous 
confessor Stephen, on charges of heresy Robert had his wife Queen Constance stand 
at the door to prevent any mob violence. However, as the condemned clerics left the 
trial the queen "struck out the eye of Stephen... with the staff which she carried". 
This was seen as Constance venting her frustration at anyone subverting the prestige 
of the crown.[6]

At Constance's urging, her eldest son Hugh Magnus was crowned co-king alongside 
his father in 1017.[7] But later Hugh demanded his parents share power with him, and 
rebelled against his father in 1025. Constance, however, on learning of her son's 
rebellion was furious with him, rebuking him at every turn. At some point Hugh was 
reconciled with his parents but shortly thereafter died, probably about age eighteen.[8]

Robert and Constance quarrelled over which of their surviving sons should inherit the 
throne; Robert favored their second son Henry, while Constance favored their third 
son, Robert.[8] Despite his mother's protests and her support by several bishops, 
Henry was crowned in 1027. Constance, however, was not graceful when she didn't 
get her way.[9] The ailing Fulbert, bishop of Chartres told a colleague that he could 
attend the ceremony "if he traveled slowly to Reims—but he was too frightened of the 
queen to go at all".[9]

Constance encouraged her sons to rebel, and they began attacking and pillaging the 
towns and castles belonging to their father. Son Robert attacked Burgundy, the duchy 
he had been promised but had never received, and Henry seized Dreux. At last King 
Robert agreed to their demands and peace was made which lasted until the king's 
death.

King Robert died on 20 July 1031.[10] Soon afterwards Constance was at odds with 
both her surviving sons. Constance seized her dower lands and refused to surrender 
them. Henry fled to Normandy, where he received aid, weapons and soldiers from his 
brother Robert. He returned to besiege his mother at Poissy but Constance escaped to 
Pontoise. She only surrendered when Henry began the siege of Le Puiset and swore 
to slaughter all the inhabitants.

Constance died 28 July 1032.[2] and was buried beside her husband Robert at Saint-
Denis Basilica.[11]

Children[edit]

Constance and Robert had six children:
1.Advisa, Countess of Auxerre (c.?1003–after 1063), married Count Renaud I of 
Nevers[12]
2.Hugh Magnus, co-king (c.?1007–17 September 1026)[2]
3.Henri (17 May 1008 – 4 August 1060)[2]
4.Adela, Countess of Contenance (1009 – 8 January 1079), married (1) Duke Richard 
III of Normandy (2) Count Baldwin V of Flanders
5.Robert I, Duke of Burgundy (1011–21 March 1076)[13]
6.Eudes (1013–1056)[2]

Parents
____ William I (ABT  954 -  994)
D'ANJOU Adelaide (Blanche) (ABT  942 - 1026)

Siblings
OF ARLES, PROVENCE AND TOULOUSE Constance (ABT  975 - 28 Jul 1032)
OF PROVENCE Toda-Adelaide (ABT  986 - )

Marriage To ____ Robert II "the Pious" (27 Mar  972 - 20 Jul 1031)
    m.  998 his 3rd

Notes

Parents
CAPET Hugh ( 941 - 24 Oct  996)
OF AQUITAINE Adelaide (ABT  945 - ABT 1004)

Children by ____ Robert II "the Pious" 27 Mar  972 - 20 Jul 1031
OF FRANCE Hedwig (ABT 1003 - 1063)
____ Henry I (4 May 1008 - 4 Aug 1060)
____ Adela (Adele) (Alix) (Adelaide) (ABT 1009 - 1079)
____ Robert I "the Old" (ABT 1011 - 21 Mar 1076)
OF FRANCE Constance (ABT 1014 - )

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