Herbert I, Count of Vermandois

Herbert I (c. 848/850 – 907) or Heribertus I, Count of Vermandois, Count of Soissons, and lay abbot of Saint Quentin and Saint-Crépin.^[1] He was a Carolingian aristocrat who played a significant role in Francia.

Herbert I
Count of Soissons
Reign	889–907
Predecessor	position established
Successor	Herbert II
Count of Vermandois
Reign	893–907
Predecessor	Pepin
Successor	Herbert II
Born	c. 848/850
Died	907
Issue	Beatrice Herbert II Cunegonda
Dynasty	Carolingian
Father	Pepin of Vermandois

Herbert was the son of Pepin of Vermandois and one great-grandson of Pepin of Italy, son of Charlemagne. He was possibly a matrilineal descendant of the Nibelungids. His early life was unknown. Herbert became count of Soissons and count of Vermandois before 889, including the strongholds of Péronne and Meulan, and was probably charged with defending the Oise against Viking intrusions.^[1]

A contemporary of Baldwin II, Count of Flanders he had the advantage of being a Carolingian, a great-grandson of Pepin of Italy, a son of Charlemagne.^[2] Herbert controlled both St. Quentin and Péronne and his activities in the upper Somme river valley, such as the capture and murder (rather than ransom) of his brother Raoul in 896, may have caused Baldwin II to have him assassinated in 907.^[3]

Herbert arranged a marriage alliance to Robert of Neustria by giving in marriage his daughter Beatrice as Robert's second wife.^[2] As a part of this pact Herbert also agreed to his son Herbert II of Vermandois marrying Adela, Robert's daughter by his first wife.^[2] Another daughter, Cunegonda, married Odo of Wetterau.^[4]

Issue

By an unknown partner:

1. Beatrice of Vermandois (c. 880- aft. 26 March 931) married Robert of Neustria.^[5] Grandmother of Hugh Capet.
2. Herbert II of Vermandois (c. 880- d. 943), married Adela of Neustria.^[5]
3. Cunegonda of Vermandois, married Odo of Wetterau (895- 949).^[a]

Notes

1. McKitterick simply states a daughter of Herbert married Odo of Wetterau and gives no name.^[5]