Quick Facts
Biography
Adalbert I of Vermandois (French: Albert I le Pieux, the Pious) (c. 915–c. 987), in 946 he succeeded his father as Count of Vermandois.
Life
Albert was the son of Herbert II of Vermandois and Adela of France. He had his men and those of his brother Count Herbert escort the mother of Louis IV of France, Queen "Ottobega" (Eadgifu of Wessex, ) from Laon to her marriage with his brother Herbert, which in turn enraged King Louis. Louis confiscated his mother's holdings, the abbey of Saint Mary in Laon which he gave to his wife Gerberga of Saxony and the royal fisc of Attigny. In 957 Albert and his brother Robert Count of Meaux and Troyes were adherents of King Lothair of France.
When Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine decided to assert his rights to the throne he was aided by Albert and Albert's two nephews, Herbert III, Count of Meaux and Odo I, Count of Blois. The two aided Charles in his plots and continued to make trouble for the new king even after Charles was captured and imprisoned.
Albert was slow to acknowledge the election of Hugh Capet as King of the Franks. On learning that Hugh intended to attack him, Albert sent Dudo of Saint-Quentin to Normandy to see if Duke Richard I, Duke of Normandy would use his influence to keep the peace between them, which apparently the duke did. For his part Hugh Capet had been suspicious that Albert was about to rebel against him. Albert, Count of Vermandois, died c. 8 Sep 0987 and was succeeded by his son Herbert III.
Family
In 954 he married Gerberge of Lorraine († 978), daughter of Giselbert, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Gerberga of Saxony.
Their children were:
- Herbert III of Vermandois
- Otto I, Count of Chiny(c. 950/955–987)
- Eudes of Vermandois (c. 956–c. 983–87)
- Liudolfe of Vermandois, Bishop of Noyon and Tournai (c. 957–986)