Hugh the Black’s Challenge to Louis IV…
936 CE
Hugh the Black’s Challenge to Louis IV (936)
- Hugh the Black may have intended to succeed his brother as King of West Francia, though there is no direct evidence that he formally claimed the throne.
- Instead of submitting to Louis IV, he refuses to acknowledge his rule, effectively challenging Carolingian authority in Burgundy.
- This defiance forces Louis IV to act swiftly to prevent a potentially independent Burgundy from emerging.
Louis IV’s Response: Hugh the Great’s Campaign
- To suppress Hugh the Black’s resistance, Louis IV enlists Hugh the Great, the most powerful noble in West Francia and Duke of the Franks.
- Hugh the Great leads a military campaign against Hugh the Black, capturing Auxerre and Sens, key cities in Burgundy.
- Following this military success, Burgundy is divided between Hugh the Great and Hugh the Black, ensuring that neither controls the entire duchy.