2019-10-24 Thu

Hugh Capet was the first king of France from 987 to 996. He is the founder and first king from the House of Capet.

He was born on 3rd July 1987 to the powerful duke Hugh the Great and his wife Hedwigde of Saxony. In 956, Hugh inherited his father’s estates, in theory making him one of the most powerful nobles in the much-reduced kingdom of West Francia.

When King Louis V died with no heir Adalbero of Reims made a plea for electing Hugh Capet. He proposed the throne was not a hereditary right but that the king should be the best man for the job. The assembly at Senlis agreed and elected Hugh King of the Franks.
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Depicted above is a silver Denier issued during his reign. The obverse of a coin depicts HERVEVS HVGO REX (Herve Hugh King). The reverse of a coin engraved Carolingian monogram Lettering: BELVACVS CIVITAS Translation: City of Beauvais.

Image Source: wikipedia.org