Rudolph II of Burgundy

Rudolph II of Burgundy
Spouse(s) Bertha of Swabia
Noble family Elder House of Welf
Father Rudolph I of Burgundy
Mother Guilla of Provence
Born c.880
Died 937

Rudolph II (c. 880 – July 11, 937) was king of Upper Burgundy (912–937), Lower Burgundy (Provence) (933–937), and Italy (effective, 922–926—claim abandoned 933). He was the son of Rudolph I, king of Upper Burgundy, a member of the Elder House of Welf, and it is presumed that his mother was his father's known wife, Guilla of Provence. He married Bertha of Swabia in 922.[1]

Following his ascent to the throne in 912, Rudolph was asked by several Italian nobles to intervene in Italy on their behalf against Emperor Berengar in 922.[2] Having entered Italy, he was crowned King of the Lombards at Pavia. In 923, he defeated Berengar at Piacenza; Berengar was murdered the following year,[3] possibly at the instigation of Rudolph. The king then ruled Upper Burgundy and Italy together, residing alternately in both kingdoms.

However, in 926 the Italian nobility turned against him and requested that Hugh of Arles, the effective ruler of Provence (or Lower Burgundy), rule them instead.[3] Rudolph returned to Upper Burgundy to protect himself, assuring Hugh's coronation as King of Italy in the process. The two Burgundian kingdoms unified, Rudolph ruled until his death in 937. He was succeeded by Conrad.[2]

After Rudolph's death in 937, his daughter Adelaide was married to Hugh's son Lothair,[2] while Hugh married Rudolph's widow Bertha.[2] Adelaide later became the second wife of Otto the Great, Holy Roman Emperor, and the mother of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor.[4]

References

  1. Appendix,The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, C.900-c.1024, ed. Timothy Reuter, Rosamond McKitterick, (Cambridge University Press, 1999), 699.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Burgundy and Provence, 879–1032, Constance Brittain Bouchard,The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, C.900-c.1024, 340–341.
  3. 1 2 Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome, (Viking Penguin, 2009), 437.
  4. Burgundy and Provence, 879–1032, Constance Brittain Bouchard,The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, C.900-c.1024, 342.

See also

Rudolph II of Burgundy
Born: c.880 Died: 937
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Rudolph I
King of Burgundy
912–937
Succeeded by
Conrad
Preceded by
Berengar of Friuli
King of Italy
922–926
Succeeded by
Hugh of Arles
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