My family tree through the ages
This article explores the author’s lineage tracing back to Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor after the Roman Empire’s collapse. Charlemagne, born in Aachen, was renowned for his conquests and cultural contributions, despite being illiterate. He had 20 children with multiple wives and concubines. The author also acknowledges Charlemagne’s brutal methods of spreading Christianity. His death in 814 led to the crumble of his empire due to succession disputes.
There is almost no information about Count Berengar’s wife. She is simply known as someone’s daughter and someone else’s wife.
Father to the Viking Rollo, Ragnvild conquered Scotland, had ugly children, and was an Earl in Norway.
Ermengarde was the wife of Louis I, Emperor of the West.
She is my 32 x great-grandmother.
Historical records mention her as the husband of Rorrick, the Count of Maine. Everything I know about her I’ve inferred from her husband’s, or her children’s, lives.
We know little of Ranulf I’s wife. She was the daughter of nobility but the chronicles of the time document little of her.
She is my 30 x great-grandmother.
Hildegarde was the daughter of Louis I, who was Emperor of the West and son of Emperor Charlemagne.
She is my 31 x great-grandmother.
Louis was the Emperor of the West following the Wars of Carolingian Succession. The ‘West’ refers to the western segment of Charlemagne’s empire and maps to most of modern-day France.
Rorrick was the Count of Maine, which included part of modern-day Brittany ?? at the time. His daughter married Count Ranulf of Poitiers.
The ⚔️ Battle of Brissarthe was a decisive battle between Brittany and the Carolingian West Francia. It is significant in ?? French history because Brittany’s win gave them peace for the first time in decades.