Robert I of France (866-923) was King of West Francia from 29 June 922 to 15 June 923, succeeding Charles the Simple and preceding Rudolph of France.
Biography[]
Robert was born in 866, the posthumous son of Robert the Strong of Anjou and Adelaide of Tours, as well as brother of Odo of France. While his brother was count of Paris, Robert assisted him in defending his city from the Vikings in 885, and he was granted the county of Paris and made an abbot for several abbeys. In 898, he recognized the supremacy of the Carolingian king Charles the Simple after his brother's death, and he defended northern France from the Vikings. In 921, he forced the invaders to convert to Christianity and settle near Nantes, and he decided to take up arms against Charles the Simple as Charles grew wary of Robert's growing power. Robert was crowned King of the Franks on 29 June 922 at Reims, and on 15 June 923 he was killed while fighting against the Viking Rollo's army at Soissons; Rollo had been enfeoffed by Charles the Simple, and he was loyal to him until the end.