Bégon DE PARIS

Notes
Notes individuelles
Bégon de Paris (v. 755/760-28 octobre 816) comte de Paris, comte de Toulouse et marquis de Septimanie (Maison des Girardides).
Il est nommé chambrier du roi Louis d'Aquitaine (et futur empereur d'Occident 814-840, fils de Charlemagne).

Décès
BEGO (-28 Oct 816).
Depoin suggests that Bego was the son of Gérard Comte de Paris[109].

He appears to assume this on the basis of the hereditary nature of the county of Paris, although it is far from clear that Carolingian counties in France at the time were routinely transmitted to family members by inheritance. Comte. King Charles I authorised “comes...Bego” to dispose of property at Bry [sur-Marne] by charter dated 23 Apr 789, reference to which exists only in a copy made by Baluze[110].

[Marquis de Septimanie]: Bego governed the county of Toulouse as "marchio" for Septimania from 806. “Bigo...comes” donated property to “presbitero...Crisogonio” at the monastery of Alaon by charter dated to [806/14][111].

He was chambrier, equivalent to viceroy, for Louis King of Aquitaine (son of Emperor Charlemagne)[112].

Comte de Paris [815], succeeding comte Stephanus. He founded the abbey of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés near Paris. Emperor Louis I granted immunities to Saint-Maur-des-Fossés at the request of “Bego fidelius noster” and “Begoni...comitis” by two charters dated 20 Jun 816[113].

The Annales Hildesheimenses record the death of "Bicgo de amici regis" in 815 (which date must be incorrect)[114]. The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés records the death "V Kal Nov" of "Begoni comitis"[115].

[m firstly ---. There is no proof of this possible first marriage of Bego. However, as noted below, if his wife Alpais was the daughter of Emperor Louis, there would have been a considerable age difference between her and Bego, which suggests the possibility of an earlier marriage.]

m [secondly] ([806]) ALPAIS, illegitimate daughter of [Emperor LOUIS I & his mistress ---] ([793/94]-23 Jul 852 or after, bur [Reims]). Flodoard refers to "Ludowicus Alpheidi filie sue uxori Begonis comitis"[116]. The Annales Hildesheimenses name "filiam imperatoris…Elpheid" as the wife of "Bicgo de amici regis" when recording the death of her husband[117]. Settipani discusses the debate about the paternity of Alpais, preferring the theory that Emperor Charles I was her father[118].

If Emperor Louis was her father, it is unlikely that she was born before [793/94], given his known birth date in 778. It would therefore be chronologically tight for her to have had [three] children by her husband before his death in 816. However, no indication has been found in primary sources of the ages of these children when their father died. The question of her paternity is obviously not beyond doubt, but it is felt preferable to show her as the probable daughter of Emperor Louis in view of the clear statement in Flodoard. If Alpais was the daughter of Emperor Louis, it is likely that she was not her husband's only wife in view of his estimated birth date.

After her husband died, she became abbess of Saint-Pierre-les-Dames at Reims in [817]. She was still there 29 May 852.


Sources
Personne: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9gon_de_Paris
Décès: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/FRANKISH%20NOBILITY.htm#Beggodied816