The only son of Hugh Capet. Succeeded his father 10/24/966, having been associated with the throne and crowned at Orleans abt 987. Buried at St. Denis Robert II is said by his biographer, the monk Helgald of Fleury-sur-Loire, to have been tall, handsome and of regal bearing, as well as being "gentle, graceful and ... well-versed in literature." His father had arranged a marriage for him with Rozala (also called Susanna), the widow of the Count of Flanders and the daughter of Berengar, King of Italy, but she was much older than Robert and they did not get on together, so he repudiated her but refused to return her dowry, which included the important fortified town on Montreuil-sur-Mer overlooking the Channel. Rid of Rozala, Robert married another widow, Bertha of Burgundy, who was more to his liking although already the mother of five children by her first husband the Count of Blois. Her only child by Robert died at birth and as the Pope had excommnicated the King for contracting a marriage within the prohibited degrees, they agreed to part in 1000 and the excommunication was lifted. Robert's third and last wife, the Countess of Provence, was a teribble women. She gave birth to four sons and two daughters, so the succession was well-assured, but as the sons grew up she encouraged them to rebel against their father and formented trouble between them as well. The eldest son Hugh died at the age of eighteen after being associated in the kingdom with his father. Robert then wished to designate his second son Henry as the successor, but Queen Constance preferred the third son Robert, later to receive the Duchy of Burgundy. The King had his way and Henry was crowned in 1027. Four years later Robert died and Henry succeeded as sole ruler. (Williamson, David. Debrett's kings and queens of Europe. Topsfield, Mass. : Salem House Publishers, c1988, pg. 66).
Browning, Charles. Americans of royal descent, 7th ed., Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986, pg. 384 lists him as Robert I, as does Douglas, William C. William the Conqueror : the Norman impact upon England. Berkeley, Cal. : U. of California Press, c1964, pg. 391).