Hugo Capet was the eldest son of the Duke of the West Franks and the sister of Emperor Otto I. After the death of his father, Hugo inherited the Duchy of France and the counties of Paris and Orleans. In 986, King Lothair died, entrusting his nineteen-year-old son and heir to the throne, Louis, to the care and protection of Hugh Capet. Louis V the Lazy, after a short reign during which royal power was virtually in the hands of Hugh, died childless. The legal heir to the throne was Lothair's brother, Charles, but the French feudal lords at a meeting in Senlis on June 1, 987 elected Hugh as king. He was also supported by the Archbishop of Reims Adalberon, and after that, the crowning of Hugo Capet took place in Noyon. The Capetian era began...