Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine

Charles (c. 953 – 22 June 992×995) was the duke of Lower Lorraine from 977 until his death. He also reigned twice as rival king of West Francia against his brother Lothair and then Hugh Capet till he was captured.

Life Born at Reims in the summer of 953, Charles was the son of Louis IV of France and Gerberga of Saxony and the younger brother of King Lothair. He was a sixth-generation descendant of Charlemagne. When his father was captured by the Normans and held, both his sons were demanded as ransom for his release. Queen Gerberga would only send Charles, who was then handed over and his father was released into the custody of Hugh Capet. The council of Sainte-Macre at Fismes (near Reims) exonerated the queen and the bishop, but Charles maintained his claim and was driven from the kingdom, finding refuge at the court of his cousin, the emperor Otto II. Otto promised to crown Charles as soon as Lothair was out of the way and Charles paid him homage, receiving back Lower Lorraine. Charles' unexceptional marriage and his lack of wealth are two of the reasons he was denied the throne. (26 March) 991, he was captured, through the perfidy of the Bishop Adalberon, and was imprisoned by Hugh in Orléans. He was succeeded as Duke of Lower Lorraine by his son Otto.

The Historia Francorum Senonensis, written between 1015 and 1034, propagated the view that Charles was the rightful king in 987 and Hugh a usurper. In 1666, the lead sarcophagus of Charles was discovered in the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht with an inscription bearing the date 1001. This appears to be the date of his interment in Maastricht, however, and not of his death. Probably his son Otto had his body moved. While the sarcophagus remains, the original inscription has been lost.

Family In 970, Charles married Adelaide of Troyes. Together he and Adelaide had:

Otto, succeeded as Duke of Lower Lotharingia Ermengarde, who married Albert I, Count of Namur Gerberga of Lower Lorraine (b. 975–1018), who married Lambert I, Count of Louvain Louis ( 989 – 1023) Charles (b. 989)