Ralph I of the Vexin explained

Ralph I (died 926) was a French Count of the Vexin, Amiens and Valois. He was the son of Heilwise, daughter of Eberhard, Margrave of Friuli and Hucbald de Gouy, Count of Ostrevent.

Biography

Rudolf is first mentioned in 915 in a royal diploma to the Saint-Clément monastery in Champagne. The following year, he became part of King Charles the Simple's entourage in Herstal. The chronicler Flodoard records him as being a follower of Duke Hugh the Great in 925, when he sealed a treaty with the Normans. He died in 926.^[1]

Family

In 924 he married Hildegard, daughter and heiress of Count Ermenfroi of Vexin, Amiens and Valois. Ralph administered the counties on behalf of his wife.^[2]

From Hildegard he had:

• Ralph II, killed in 943, Count of Vexin, Amiens and Valois
• Walter I, who became Count of Vexin, Amiens and Valois after his brother's death

Notes and References

1. Pierre Bauduin, The First Normandy (10th -11th centuries) 2004, p.474
2. Édouard de Saint Phalle, "Les comtes de Gâtinais aux Xe et XIe siècle" in Onomastique et Parenté dans l'Occident médiéval, Oxford, Linacre College, Unit for Prosopographical Research, series Prosopographica et Genealogica / 3, 2000, pp. 230–246