Rudolph of France

Rudolph, sometimes called Ralph (; c. 890 – 14/15 January 936), was the king of France from 923 until his death in 936. He was elected to succeed his father-in-law, Robert I, and spent much of his reign defending his realm from Viking raids. Name In contemporary Latin documents, his name is usually Rodulfus, from the Germanic roots hruod, "fame, glory", and wulf, "wolf". Rodulf and Rudolf are variants of this name; the French form is Rodolphe. By contrast, the king is normally known as Raoul in modern French, a name which derives from Radulfus, from Germanic rad, "counsel", and wulf (whence Ralph). Although this name is of different origin, it was sometimes used interchangeably by contemporaries with Rodulfus. The king himself, however, always used Rodulfus, as on his personal seal. Nonetheless, he is sometimes called Ralph (from Raoul) or Radulf in English. Background Rudolph was born around 890, the son of Richard, Duke of Burgundy, and Adelaide of Auxerre. He inherited the Duchy of Burgundy from his father in 921 and married Emma, daughter of King Robert I of France. He was elected to succeed his father-in-law, who was killed at the Battle of Soissons against the deposed King Charles the Simple. He was crowned by Walter, the archbishop of Sens, at Saint-Médard de Soissons on 13 July 923. On assuming the crown he passed the Duchy of Burgundy to his younger brother, Hugh the Black. Reign