Ranulf II of Aquitaine facts for kids

Ranulf II (also known as Rannulf or Ranulph) was an important leader in a part of France called Aquitaine. He was born around 850 and died on August 5, 890. He became the Count of Poitou in 866 and the Duke of Aquitaine in 887.

After the death of Emperor Charles the Fat in 888, Ranulf II called himself the King of Aquitaine. He held this title until 889 or his death. After he died, no one else used the title of King of Aquitaine for a while.

Ranulf's Family and Successors

Ranulf II was the son of Ranulf I and Adeltrude of Maine. He married a woman named Ermengard, who died in 935. They had a son named Ranulf III, who took over as Count of Poitou after his father.

Ranulf II also had an illegitimate son named Ebalus. Ebalus became the Duke of Aquitaine after Ranulf II died. Later, when Ranulf III died, Ebalus also became the Count of Poitou.

Becoming King of Aquitaine

Many historians believe that the nobles in Aquitaine might have chosen Ranulf to be their king. This is because they only accepted King Odo of France as their ruler in 892, which was after Ranulf's death.

Only one historical record, called the Annales Fuldenses, clearly states that Ranulf became king. It says, "Ranulf then set himself up as king." Ranulf also took care of Charles, who was the young son of King Louis the Stammerer. Ranulf definitely did not recognize Odo as the true king of France.

Another historical record, the Annales Vedastes, describes what happened in 889: After Christmas in 888, King Odo went to Aquitaine with a few French nobles. He wanted the people there to accept him as their king. When Ranulf, who was the duke of most of Aquitaine, heard about this, he came to meet Odo with his supporters. Ranulf brought the young boy Charles, the son of King Louis, with him. Ranulf swore loyalty to Odo, and the young boy Charles did too. After this, King Odo returned to France because of attacks from the Norsemen (Vikings).

Protecting the Region from Vikings

Around this time, Ranulf created the viscountcy of Thouars. A viscount was a local noble who managed a specific area. This was part of a bigger plan to create viscounts who would control important fortresses. These fortresses were needed to defend the region against attacks from the Vikings.

See also

• Ramnulfids
• Dukes of Aquitaine family tree

Sources

• Lewis, Archibald Ross. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718–1050. University of Texas Press: Austin, 1965.
• MacLean, Simon. Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the end of the Carolingian Empire. Cambridge University Press: 2003.