The Frankish Throne Left Vacant: Charles Martel Rules Without a King (737)

In 737, following the death of Theuderic IV, the Merovingian throne is left vacant, marking a significant shift in Frankish governance. Charles Martel, already the de facto ruler of Francia, chooses not to appoint a new Merovingian king, breaking with the tradition of maintaining a royal figurehead.

Instead, Charles continues to rule directly as Mayor of the Palace, consolidating his power as the undisputed leader of the Franks. While the Merovingian dynasty still technically exists, Charles effectively abolishes its authority, further paving the way for the eventual rise of the Carolingian dynasty.

This decision underscores the reality that the Frankish monarchy has become obsolete, with true power lying in the hands of the mayors of the palace—a fact that will be solidified in the coming decades when Charles's descendants formally claim the throne.

Queen Emma of France: The First Crowned Frankish Queen and a Warrior Leader (921–934)

Emma of France, daughter of King Robert I of West Francia and Aelis of Maine, was the wife of King Rudolph (Raoul) of Burgundy, whom she married in 921. She became Queen of the Franks in 923, following Rudolph’s coronation at Saint-Médard de Soissons on July 13, 923. Notably, Emma is the first known Frankish queen to have been crowned, receiving her coronation later that same year in Reims, an event recorded in contemporary chronicles.

Emma’s Role as Queen and Political Actor

• Unlike many early medieval queens, Emma was politically active and participated in military campaigns alongside her husband.
• She played a crucial role in stabilizing the monarchy, which faced constant noble revolts and Viking incursions.

Rudolph’s Campaigns and Emma’s Involvement

1. The Viking Wars in Southern Francia (c. 930s)

• After securing his northern borders, Rudolph led a campaign with Ebalus of Aquitaine to eradicate the last Viking strongholds in southern France.
• Once the Norse presence in the region was eliminated, Rudolph turned his attention to his greatest political rival, Herbert II of Vermandois.

2. The Conflict with Herbert II of Vermandois (931–934)

• In 931, Rudolph marched into Reims, replacing Archbishop Hugh (Herbert’s son) with Artald, weakening Herbert’s grip on the region.
• In 933–934, Rudolph and Hugh the Great burned Herbert’s fortresses and cornered him in Château-Thierry, the same place where Charles the Simple had been imprisoned.

Emma’s Military Leadership and Death (934)

• Emma was not just politically active, but also led armies, a rarity for queens of the time.
• During one of the final battles against rebellious vassals in 934, she played a key role in securing victory for Rudolph’s forces.
• However, she died on November 2, 934, during the campaign, making her one of the few medieval queens recorded as dying in battle.

Legacy of Queen Emma

1. First Frankish Queen to be Officially Crowned

   • Her coronation at Reims in 923 established a precedent for later Capetian and medieval French queens.

2. A Warrior Queen

   • Emma was militarily involved, something rare among early medieval queens, making her a unique figure in West Frankish history.

3. Strengthened the Robertian Dynasty’s Influence

   • As the daughter of Robert I and wife of Rudolph, Emma cemented alliances between the Robertians and the House of Burgundy, helping to shape the future of the French monarchy.

Though Emma’s life was cut short in 934, she left behind a legacy of strong queenship and political engagement, ensuring that her family and supporters maintained influence in the kingdom even after her passing.

...Château-Thierry, and ...

Independence does not become William's objective even after the proclamation of the Act of Abjuration.

Because William had in 1580 turned to the duke d'Anjou, who has agreed to take over the “lordship” of the Low Countries, Archduke Matthias returns home in 1581.

The prince hopes for assistance from the duke's brother, King Henry III of France, and considers the “lordship” of Anjou as only a kind of limited, constitutional “sovereignty” like that which the rebels had hoped to impose on Philip II at the beginning of their rising.

Anjou, however, sees the lordship as a means to total dominion over the Netherlands and, seeking to exploit the unsettled conditions here, in 1581 proclaims himself duke of Brabant and count of Flanders, but the titles remain fictitious.

As Henry III remains childless, Anjou's death on June 10, 1584, makes his distant cousin the Protestant Henry of Bourbon-Navarre heir presumptive to the crown of France.