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Eadgifu of Wessex

d. AD 51

Queen consort of France

Royalty
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About Eadgifu of Wessex

Eadgifu of Wessex was a royalty.

Eadgifu or Edgifu , also known as Edgiva or Ogive , was Queen of the West Franks as the wife of King Charles the Simple. She was a daughter of Edward the Elder, King of Wessex and England, and his second wife Ælfflæd.

Queen Eadgifu was one of three West Saxon sisters married to Continental rulers: the others were Eadgyth, who married Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor and Eadhild, who married Hugh the Great. Eadgifu became the second wife of Charles the Simple (more correctly "the Straightforward") King of the West Franks, whom she married between 917 and 919 after the death of his first wife. Eadgifu was mother to King Louis IV of France.

Flight to England In 923 Charles III was deposed after being defeated at the Battle of Soissons, and he was taken prisoner by Count Herbert II of Vermandois. To protect her son's safety, Eadgifu took Louis to England in 923 and he was brought up at the court of her half-brother, King Æthelstan of England. Because of this, Louis became known as Louis d'Outremer ("from over the sea"). He stayed there until 936, when he was called back to France to be crowned King. Eadgifu accompanied him.

She retired to a convent in Laon. In 951, Herbert the Old, Count of Omois, abducted and married her, to the great anger of her son. She died at Soissons on 26 December in an unknown year and is not recorded after 951.

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Important facts

Born
Kingdom of Wessex
Died
AD 51
Occupation
Royalty
Positions held
Queen consort
Also known as
Eadgifu, Ogina, Hedwig, Edgifa, Edgiva, Edwige

Family & relationships

Spouse
Charles III of France
Spouse
Herbert III of Omois
Child
Louis IV of France
Parent
Edward the Elder
Parent
Ælfflæd, wife of Edward the Elder

Frequently asked questions

Who was Eadgifu of Wessex?

Queen consort of France

When was Eadgifu of Wessex born?

Eadgifu of Wessex was born in Kingdom of Wessex.

When did Eadgifu of Wessex die?

Eadgifu of Wessex died in AD 51.

What was Eadgifu of Wessex's occupation?

Eadgifu of Wessex was a royalty.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Eadgifu of Wessex

· Wikidata: Q268105

· DBpedia: Eadgifu of Wessex

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Eadgifu of Wessex. https://biography.guide/eadgifu-of-wessex/

MLA: "Eadgifu of Wessex." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/eadgifu-of-wessex/.

Chicago: "Eadgifu of Wessex." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/eadgifu-of-wessex/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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