Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine
Encyclopedia
Frederick I was the count of Bar and duke of Upper Lorraine. He was a son of Wigeric, count of Bidgau
, also count palatine
of Lorraine, and Cunigunda, and thus a sixth generation descendant of Charlemagne
.
In 954, he married Beatrice, daughter of Hugh the Great
, count of Paris
, and Hedwige of Saxony
. He received in dowry
the revenues of the abbey of Saint-Denis
in Lorraine. He constructed a fortress at Fains
, on the frontier between France and Germany, and exchanged fiefs with the bishop of Toul. Thus, he created his own feudal domain, the county of Bar. So he became the founder of the House of Bar or the House of Ardennes-Bar, a cadet branch of the House of Ardennes.
The duchy of Lorraine was at that time governed by the archbishop of Cologne, Bruno
, who was called the archduke
on account of his dual title. In 959, he, in concert with his brother, the Emperor Otto I, divided the duchy, appointing as margrave
s (or vice-dukes) one Godfrey
in Lower Lorraine and Frederick in Upper Lorraine. After Bruno's death, in 977, Frederick and Godfrey were styling themselves dukes.
As duke, he favoured the reform of Saint-Dié and Moyenmoutier
.
He is an ancestor of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Prince Philip.
Wigeric of Lotharingia
Wigeric or Wideric was the count of the Bidgau and held the rights of a count within the city of Trier. He received also the advocacy of the Abbey of Saint RumboldThe abbey founded by St. Rumbold in the 6th, 7th or 8th century and a 9th century St...
, also count palatine
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
of Lorraine, and Cunigunda, and thus a sixth generation descendant of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
.
In 954, he married Beatrice, daughter of Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great
Hugh the Great or Hugues le Grand was duke of the Franks and count of Paris, son of King Robert I of France and nephew of King Odo. He was born in Paris, Île-de-France, France. His eldest son was Hugh Capet who became King of France in 987...
, count of Paris
Count of Paris
Count of Paris was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. Eventually, the count of Paris was elected to the French throne...
, and Hedwige of Saxony
Hedwige of Saxony
Hedwige of Saxony was a daughter of Henry I the Fowler, and his wife Matilda of Ringelheim.She was a sister of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor; Henry I, Duke of Bavaria; Gerberga of Saxony; and Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne....
. He received in dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
the revenues of the abbey of Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis....
in Lorraine. He constructed a fortress at Fains
Fains
Fains is a commune in the Eure department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Population:...
, on the frontier between France and Germany, and exchanged fiefs with the bishop of Toul. Thus, he created his own feudal domain, the county of Bar. So he became the founder of the House of Bar or the House of Ardennes-Bar, a cadet branch of the House of Ardennes.
The duchy of Lorraine was at that time governed by the archbishop of Cologne, Bruno
Bruno I, Archbishop of Cologne
Bruno the Great was Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, from 953 until his death, and Duke of Lotharingia from 954. He was the brother of Otto I, king of Germany and later Holy Roman Emperor....
, who was called the archduke
Archduke
The title of Archduke denotes a noble rank above Duke and below King, used only by princes of the Houses of Habsburg and Habsburg-Lorraine....
on account of his dual title. In 959, he, in concert with his brother, the Emperor Otto I, divided the duchy, appointing as margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
s (or vice-dukes) one Godfrey
Godfrey I, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Godfrey I was the count of Hainault from 958 and margrave or vice-duke of Lower Lorraine from 959, when that duchy was divided by Duke Bruno, who remained duke until his death in 965....
in Lower Lorraine and Frederick in Upper Lorraine. After Bruno's death, in 977, Frederick and Godfrey were styling themselves dukes.
As duke, he favoured the reform of Saint-Dié and Moyenmoutier
Moyenmoutier
Moyenmoutier is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are called Médianimonastériens.-Geography:...
.
He is an ancestor of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Prince Philip.
Family
His children were:- Henry (died between 972 and 978)
- Adalberon II (958–1005), bishop of Verdun and MetzDiocese of MetzThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz is a Diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France. In the Middle Ages it was in effect an independent state, part of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the bishop who had the ex officio title of count. It was annexed to France by King Henry II in...
- Thierry IThierry I, Duke of Upper LorraineTheodoric I was the count of Bar and duke of Upper Lorraine from 978 to his death. He was the son and successor of Frederick I and Beatrice, daughter of Hugh the Great, count of Paris, and sister to the French king Hugh Capet.His mother was the regent until 987...
(965–1026), count of Bar and duke of Upper Lorraine - Ida (970-1026), married in 1010 Radbot, Count of HabsburgRadbot, Count of HabsburgRadbot, Count of Habsburg , also known as Radbot of Klettgau, was Graf of the county of Klettgau on the High Rhine in Swabia....
(970-1027), who built the castle of HabichtsburgHabsburgThe House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
and is thus an ancestor of the great HabsburgHabsburgThe House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
family which dominated Europe in the sixteenth century.