Constance CAPET, Princess of France
- Born: Abt 1078, France
- Married (1): 1093/5
- Married (2): 1106, Chartres, Eure-Et-Loire, France
- Died: 14 Sep 1126
 Research Notes:
Orderic Vitalis names "Ludovicum-Tedbaldum et Constantiam" as the children of Philippe I King of France and his wife "Bertrandam, Florentii Frisiorum ducis filiam". The Historia Regum Francorum Monasterii Sancti Dionysii names "Ludovicum regem et filiam unam Constanciam" as children of "Philippus rex [et] uxorem sororem Roberti Flandrensis comitis", specifying that Constance married firstly "Hugoni Trecharum comiti", from whom she was separated for consanguinity, and secondly "Boamundo apud Carnotho". Orderic Vitalis records that King Philippe married “Constantiam...filiam suam” firstly to “Hugonis Trecassino comiti” and secondly to “duci Antiochiæ Buamundo apud Carnotum”. "Hugo comes Campanie Teotbaldi comitis filius" donated property to the abbey of Molesme by charter dated 2 Apr 1104, which names "frater meus Odo comes, Constantiam regis Francorum filiam necnon et comitissam Adelaidem uxorem fratris mei comitis Stephani nepotes…" and is subscribed by "Teotbaldus puer filius Stephani comitis nepos huius comitis Hugonis".
William of Tyre names her, and her father, when he records her (second) marriage. Suger's Vita Ludovici records the marriage of "Antiochenum principem Boamundum" and "domini Ludovici…sororem Constantiam" at Chartres, mentioning her previous marriage to "comitem Trecensem Hugonem". The Lignages d'Outremer name "Costance la fille le roy de Franche" as wife of "Beymont" son of "Robert Guichart qui conquest Puille". Her second marriage was arranged by Adela Ctss de Blois while Prince Bohémond was in France canvassing support against Byzantium. After her second marriage, she remained with her husband in Apulia and never visited Palestine.
She was regent for her son in Italy after the death of her second husband. She claimed the title "Queen" as daughter of the king of France. The Romoaldi Annales record that "regina Constancia" was captured by "comite Alexandro et Grimoaldo Barense in Umenatia civitate" and taken to Bari in Aug, dated to 1119. The Annales Ceccanenses record that "reginam Boamundi" was freed from Bari in 1120, after the intercession of Pope Calixtus II. 1
Marriage Information:
Constance married Hugues DE BLOIS Comte de Troyes, son of Thibault (Thibaud) III DE BLOIS Comte de Chartres, de Châteaudun.. and Alix DE CRÉPY comtesse de Bar-sur-Aube, in 1093-1095. The marriage ended in divorce in 1104. (Hugues DE BLOIS Comte de Troyes was born about 1062 and died on 14 Jun 1126 in Palestine.)
Marriage Notes:
An early sign of possible difficulties in this marriage is shown by the charter dated 1102 under which "Constantia, Philippi regis Francorum filia…Hugonis comitis Trecensium coniux legitima" donated property to the abbey of Molesme, the suggestion being that the reference to "coniux legitima" indicates that her husband may have had another "unofficial" relationship at this time. "Hugo comes Campanie Teotbaldi comitis filius" donated property to the abbey of Molesme by charter dated 2 Apr 1104, which names "frater meus Odo comes, Constantiam regis Francorum filiam necnon et comitissam Adelaidem uxorem fratris mei comitis Stephani nepotes…" and is subscribed by "Teotbaldus puer filius Stephani comitis nepos huius comitis Hugonis".
Marriage Information:
Constance also married Marco (Bohémond) DI APULIA, Prince of Taranto & Antioch, son of Robert I "Guiscard/Weasel" DE HAUTEVILLE, Duca di Apulia & Calabria, and Alberada DI BUONALBERGO, in 1106 in Chartres, Eure-Et-Loire, France. (Marco (Bohémond) DI APULIA was born in 1052 and died on 3 Mar 1111.) |
