Philip I of France

Philippe I (May 23, 1052 - July 29, 1108) was King of France.

A member of the Capetian Dynasty, Philippe was born on May 23, 1052, the son of Henri I (1008-1060) and Princess Anne of Kiev, Russia (1024 - 1075). Although he was crowned king at the age of seven, until 1066 his mother acted as Regent, the first queen ever to do so.

Philippe's first marriage was to Bertha of Holland (1055-July 30, 1094). Their children were:

• Constance (1078 - c. 1125)
• Louis VI (December 1, 1081 - August 1, 1137)

Although the marriage produced the necessary heir, Philippe fell in love with Bertrade, the wife of the count of Anjou. When he divorced Bertha and married Bertrade on May 15, 1092, he was excommunicated by Pope Urban II of the Roman Catholic Church. Their children were:

• Philippe (c. 1093 - 1123)
• Florus (1095 - 1118)
• Cécile (1097 - 1145)

A great part of Philippe's reign, like his father's, was spent putting down revolts by his power-hungry vassals. In 1077, he made peace with William I of England (Duke of Normandy) who give up the conquest of Brittany. In 1082, Philippe expanded his empire with the annexation of Vexin, then in 1100, he took control of Bourges.

It was during Philippe's time that the first of the Crusades was launched in 1095 which he at first did not personally support because of his conflict with Urban II. Urban would not have allowed him to participate anyway, as he had reaffirmed Philippe's excommunication at the Council of Clermont before he called for the Crusade. Philippe's brother Hugh of Vermandois, however, was a major participant.

King Philippe I died in the castle at Melun on July 29, 1108 and was buried at the monastery of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire.

He was succeeded by his son, Louis VI.

Preceded by: (Anne of Kiev)

List of French monarchs

Succeeded by: Louis VI