First constable of France under the Capetian dynasty

[Peter Stewart]

According to a Wikipedia page here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Constable_of_France

the first constables under Henri I were as follows:

Baldric de Dreux, 20 May 1043–1069
Walter (Baldric's deputy), 1048
Alberic (Baldric's deputy), 1060

This list should be amended to:

Walter, by 17 April 1048
Alberic, by 1060
Baldric de Dreux, 1060–1069

The supposition that Baldric was constable from 1043 until 1069, and
that consequently others occurring within this period must have been his
deputies, is based on his subscribing as constable a charter of Henri I
dated 20 May 1043, here:

http://telma.irht.cnrs.fr/outils/originaux/charte2079/.

However, although this charter is considered a genuine document from the
royal chancery, the subscriptions were not contemporary with the act
recorded in it. The first subscription is that of Mainard as archbishop
of Sens ("S. Mainardi Senonensis archiepiscopi ... S. Baldrici
conostabuli"). In May 1043 Mainard was still bishop of Troyes and he did
not become archbishop of Sens until November 1049 after the deposition
of Gelduin at the council of Reims. This charter was discussed by
Jacques Boussard in 'Actes royaux et pontificaux des Xe et XIe siècles,
du chartrier de Saint-Maur des Fossés', *Journal des savants* (1972),
pp. 85-87 here:

https://www.persee.fr/doc/jds_0021-8103_1972_num_2_1_1264.

Baldric probably subscribed the charter in 1060, when for some reason
either an original version from 1043 needed to be replaced or, as
Boussard suggested, a verbal act that had not been documented at that
time was belatedly set down in writing. The reason for placing this as
late as 1060 is that Baldric was still in office for some years
afterwards under Philippe I, whereas Alberic (almost certainly of
Montmorency) occurs as constable in 1059/60 under Henri I but not after.
This is in a charter also subscribed by Mainard of Sens, dated 1060 but
with the regnal year for 1058 and indiction for 1062, here (folio 2r-v):

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b525017061/f9

("Anno regni supradicti regis XXVII. Actum anno ab incarnatione domini M
LX indictione XV Parisius publice. Signum regis Henrici. Signum Philippi
regis ... Signum archiepiscopi Maynardi Senonensis ... Signum Albrici
conestabularii"). Henri's son Philippe was crowned on 23 May 1059 so
this charter must have been written between then ans the death of Henri
I on 4 August 1060. Evidently Alberic died, or at any rate ceased to be
constable, before Henri in order to be succeeded by Baldric before the
king's death.

The first record of a constable under Henri was on 17 April 1048 when
Walter held the office, here:

http://telma.irht.cnrs.fr/outils/originaux/charte3099/

("Actum publice Parisius anno uerbi incarnati MXLVIII Indictione I
Regnante Hænrico rege XVIII anno XV kl maii ... S Vualterii constabularii").

Peter Stewart