Hugh had retired to Provence, but continued…

Hugh had retired to Provence, but continued to carry the royal title until his death in 947.

Lothair II, although he holds the title of rex Italiae, will never succeeded in exercising power here.

He had been betrothed in 931 and had been married, on December 12, 947, to the fifteen-year-old Adelaide, the spirited and intelligent daughter of Rudolph II of Burgundy and Bertha of Swabia.

Their marriage is part of a political settlement designed to conclude a peace between her father and his.

In 933, Hugh of Arles had given up his kingdom (Provence) to his inveterate enemy Rudolph II, who merged the two kingdoms into a new Kingdom of Arles, but died in 937.

The couple have a daughter, Emma, born as early as 948, who will be married in 966 to the Carolingian Lothair of France.

Lothair's power in Italy is nominal.

From the time of the successful uprising of the nobles in 945, when Hugh had been forced into exile, Berengar of Ivrea has kept all real power and patronage in his hands.

Lothair's brief "reign" comes to an end with his death on November 22, 950, presumably poisoned by Berengar II, leaving Adelaide widowed before her twentieth birthday.

Berengar II crowns himself king with his son Adalbert of Italy as his co-ruler and heir apparent.

Failing to receive widespread support for his right to the crown, Berengar II attempts to legitimize his reign and tries to force Adelaide, the respective daughter, daughter-in-law and widow of the last three Italian kings, into marriage with Adalbert.

Adelaide fiercely refuses and is imprisoned by Berengar II at Garda Lake.