The Coronation of Henry I and Constance of Arles’ Defiance (1027)

On May 14, 1027, Henry I of France was crowned King of the Franks at Reims Cathedral, in accordance with Capetian tradition, ensuring his place as his father’s successor while Robert II was still alive. However, his mother, Queen Constance of Arles, fiercely opposed his coronation, creating tensions that would persist well beyond Robert II’s death.

Capetian Coronation Tradition

• Since Hugh Capet’s reign, Capetian monarchs crowned their heirs during their lifetime to ensure dynastic stability and prevent succession crises.
• Henry’s coronation at Reims, the traditional site for French royal anointings, reinforced his legitimacy as heir to the throne.
• However, the ceremony did not quell internal dissent, as Constance of Arles refused to accept Henry as the rightful heir.

Constance’s Resistance and Political Maneuvering

• Constance had favored her younger son, Robert, and opposed Henry’s elevation, fearing her influence would be weakened once Henry took full control of the kingdom.
• Her defiance alarmed many within the royal court, including bishops and nobles who feared her volatile nature.
• The ailing Bishop Fulbert of Chartres, a highly respected cleric, confided in a colleague that while he could physically travel to Reims, he was too afraid of Queen Constance to attend.

The Political Fallout

• Despite Constance’s protests and support from several bishops, Henry I’s coronation proceeded, marking him as the undisputed heir to the Capetian throne.
• However, Constance did not relent, and after Robert II’s death in 1031, she actively fomented rebellion against Henry, nearly splitting the kingdom in the subsequent Capetian civil war.

Legacy and Impact

• Henry I’s early reign was overshadowed by his mother’s opposition, as Constance allied with nobles and bishops to install Robert as king instead.
• The fear Constance inspired—even among prominent church leaders—illustrates her ruthlessness and political cunning, making her one of the most formidable queens of early Capetian France.
• The tensions within the royal family weakened the monarchy, delaying Henry I’s ability to fully consolidate power after his father’s death.

Constance’s unyielding ambition and resentment toward Henry’s coronation foreshadowed the intense struggle for power that would erupt after Robert II’s passing, marking one of the most significant succession crises of early Capetian rule.