Henry I, Duke of Burgundy

Henry the Great ( probably 946 *, † October 15, 1002 in Chateau Pouilly -sur -Saône ) was Count of Nevers, Auxerre and from 965 until his death Duke of Burgundy.

Heinrich is also known as Henry I of Burgundy to distinguish between Henry II of Burgundy, son of King Robert II, which was put in 1016 by his father, the Duke of Burgundy and its 1031 successor as King of France ( as king Henry I of France ). Henry the Great is also known under the name of Odo -Heinrich (French Eudes -Henri ), as it was originally intended, before his elevation to the Duke, was named Odo and clerics; only on the occasion of obtaining the title of duke, he took the name Heinrich. His epithet "the Great" does not apply to special services, but is the result of a translation error; Latin he was Magnus, which meant in this case " the Elder " to distinguish it from Henry II

Henry was the youngest of the three legitimate sons Hugh the Great, Duke of Franzien of the family of Robertiner. His eldest brother was Hugh Capet, who was to succeed his father Duke of Franzien and later, when he was elected King of France, founded the dynasty of the Capetians. As Duke of Burgundy Henry succeeds his older brother Otto, after it had died leaving behind 965 without an heir. Henry was elected by the Burgundian Grand at the request of Hugh Capet and was then apparently a vassal of his brother Hugo; therefore Burgundy was at that time no longer considered as a fief of the Crown, as the Carolingian king Lothar was not consulted in the settlement of the succession question. As 987 Hugh Capet, attained the kingship itself, Burgundy was thus again a fief of the crown. As fiefs was the duchy, when Henry died in 1002 without leaving an heir, collected by King Robert II, the son and successor of Hugh Capet. However, this came in the Burgundian nobility fierce resistance.

Henry was married three times. His first wife was for about 972 Gerberga of Mâcon († 11 December 986/991 ), daughter of Otto ( Othon ) and widow of the Margrave Adalbert II of Ivrea King of Italy. His second wife was already in June 992 Gersende of Gascony, the daughter of Duke William; the marriage was divorced 996. His third wife was married for 998 Mathilde of Chalon († 1005/1019 ), daughter of Count Lambert, the second husband Godfrey I of Semur (House Semur ). With her he had a daughter, Aramburga of Burgundy, who was probably born in 999, and was married to 1015 of Semur Dalmas. In addition, he had from an unknown woman an illegitimate son named Odo ( Eudes ), the 1004 was Viscount of Beaune.