Herbert I, Count of Vermandois

Herbert I of Vermandois (c. 848/850 – 907), Count of Vermandois, Count of Meaux, Count of Soissons, and lay abbot of Saint Quentin. He was a Carolingian aristocrat who played a significant role in Francia.

Herbert was the son of Pepin of Vermandois. Herbert became count of Soissons before 889 and was probably charged with defending the Oise against Viking intrusions. A contemporary of Baldwin II, Count of Flanders he had the advantage of being a Carolingian, a great-grandson of Pepin of Italy, a son of Charlemagne. Herbert controlled both St. Quentin and Péronne and his activities in the upper Somme river valley, such as the capture and murder (rather than ransom) of his brother Raoul in 896, may have caused Baldwin II to have him assassinated in 907.

Herbert arranged a marriage alliance to Robert of Neustria by giving in marriage his daughter Beatrice as Robert's second wife. As a part of this pact Herbert also agreed to his son Herbert II of Vermandois marrying Adela, Robert's daughter by his first wife.

Marriage and issue

He married Bertha de Morvis and their children are:

• Herbert II, Count of Vermandois, succeeded his father.
• Béatrice of Vermandois (c. 880–931), married King Robert I of France.
• Cunegonda of Vermandois († aft. 943) who married Eudo, Count in the Wetterau.