French Royalty. Born the daughter of Guillaume I, Le Liberator, Comte de Provence and Adelaide d'Anjou in about 973. About 1001 she became the third wife of Robert II of France. His previous wife, Bertha of Burgundy was cousin to Pope Gregory V who would not sanction the marriage to Constance and Robert was excommunicated. After extended negotiations, however, with a new Pope, Silvester II, the marriage to Bertha was finally annulled. The Burgundians remained Constance's political opponents and her marriage contentious. At her urging, their eldest son, Hugues, was crowned co-king to his father in 1017. Hugues' open rebellion in 1025 failed and he fled, dying the following year a fugitive. She encourage further revolt from her sons, and by 1029 the king was at was with his sons Henri and Robert. The king died in the field in 1031 at Melun, France, and Henri succeeded him as Henri I though Constance favored Robert for the throne. She retired from court upon Henri's ascension and formed a powerful insurgency against him, seizing her dower lands and driving Henri into Normandy, where he allied there with the Duke. He returned to besiege his mother at at her hold in Poissy, and although she escaped, she eventually surrendered to Henri. She died soon after at about age 60, and was buried beside her husband. She has occasionally been referred to as Constance de Taillefer or Constance de Provence.
French Royalty. Born the daughter of Guillaume I, Le Liberator, Comte de Provence and Adelaide d'Anjou in about 973. About 1001 she became the third wife of Robert II of France. His previous wife, Bertha of Burgundy was cousin to Pope Gregory V who would not sanction the marriage to Constance and Robert was excommunicated. After extended negotiations, however, with a new Pope, Silvester II, the marriage to Bertha was finally annulled. The Burgundians remained Constance's political opponents and her marriage contentious. At her urging, their eldest son, Hugues, was crowned co-king to his father in 1017. Hugues' open rebellion in 1025 failed and he fled, dying the following year a fugitive. She encourage further revolt from her sons, and by 1029 the king was at was with his sons Henri and Robert. The king died in the field in 1031 at Melun, France, and Henri succeeded him as Henri I though Constance favored Robert for the throne. She retired from court upon Henri's ascension and formed a powerful insurgency against him, seizing her dower lands and driving Henri into Normandy, where he allied there with the Duke. He returned to besiege his mother at at her hold in Poissy, and although she escaped, she eventually surrendered to Henri. She died soon after at about age 60, and was buried beside her husband. She has occasionally been referred to as Constance de Taillefer or Constance de Provence.
Bio by: Iola
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