Research Notes:

"Ottonem, Alberti Vermandensium comitis filium" is named in the Gesta Episcoporum Cameracensium. A list of members of the Cathedral of Paris lists (in order) "Albertus comes, Girberga comitissa, Harbertus, Otto, Lewultus, Girbertus, Gondrada, Ricardus, Harbertus comes…", the first four individuals named apparently being Comte Albert, his wife and three sons, and the last named maybe his brother or nephew. Otto is named with his parents in a charter of Comte Adalbert dated 2 Nov [958/59]. There appears to be no direct proof that Otto, ancestor of the Comtes de Chiny, was the same person as Otto, son of Adalbert Comte de Vermandois. The Historia Monasterii Mosomense records that "Ottonem comitem" built "castellum…Warcus" (Warcq, Ardennes, in the comitatus Castritius) in 971, and suggests his affiliation when, in a later passage, it clarifies that "superius dictus Ottho erat comes, Otthonum…Romanorum imperatorum…germanissima progenies". The editor of the MGH SS edition of the Historia identifies Otto with the son of Albert [I] Comte de Vermandois and Gerberge, daughter of Emperor Otto I's sister. A subsequent passage of the Historia dates the foundation of the monastery to 24 Jul 971, implying that the events recorded earlier in the text predated this foundation. If this is correct, 971 seems early for Otto de Vermandois to have constructed Warcq in light of his estimated birth date (which appears reasonably robust). It is assumed that Otto conquered Ivois around the same time as building the castle of Warcq, and installed himself as Comte d'Ivois. Gerbert, in a letter dated to Oct 986, records that "dux Cono pro suo Ottone insidias molitur". In the same letter, he also records that "Laudunensis episcopus" left "Dordingum" (Dourdon?) on the advice of "Ottonis et Heriberti" in support of "ducem" (which appears to refer to Hugues Capet). Settipani suggests that "Otto" in this text refers to the holder of Warcq. However, all other passages in Gerbert's letters which name "Ottonis et Heriberti" (in that order) appear to refer to Eudes I Comte de Blois and his first cousin Héribert [V] Comte de Troyes. It is unclear from the full text of this letter whether the two references to "Ottone" and to "Ottonis" relate to the same person. "Dux Cono" has not been identified, although it may refer to Konrad I Duke of Swabia. If this is correct, it is possible that the first "Ottone" is a different person from the second "Ottonis" as there is no other passage which links the Blois count to the Swabian duke. Settipani states that Otto died "between 986 and 987", without specifying the basis for this speculation. ¹