Hugh Capet(c. 939 – 24 October 996) was the first King of the Franks of the House of Capet from his election in 987 until his death. He succeeded the last Carolingian king, Louis V. Hugh was a descendant of Charlemagne through his paternal grandmother

The son of Hugh the Great, Duke of the Franks, and Hedwige of Saxony, daughter of the German king Henry the Fowler, Hugh was born sometime from 938-941.

Hugh Capet was born into a well-connected and powerful family with many ties to the royal houses of France and Germany.

Through his mother, Hugh was the descendent of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor; Henry I, Duke of Bavaria; Bruno the Great, Archbishop of Cologne; and finally, Gerberga of Saxony, Queen of France. Gerberga was the wife of Louis IV, King of France and mother of Lothair of France and Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine.

His paternal family, the Robertians, were powerful landowners in the Île-de-France. His grandfather had been King Robert I.King Odo was his granduncle and King Rudolph was his uncle by affinity.Hugh's paternal grandmother was a descendant of Charlemagne.