BOSON, son of comte BUVINUS [Bouvin] & his wife --- d'Arles (-Vienne, Isère 11 Jan 887, bur Vienne, cathédrale de Saint-Maurice). The Annals of Hincmar name "Bosone filio Buvini quondam comitis" in 869[12]. An agreement between Charles II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks and his brother Ludwig II "der Deutsche" King of the East Franks dated Jun 860 names "nobilis ac fidelibus laicis…Chuonradus, Evrardus, Adalardus, Arnustus, Warnarius, Liutfridus, Hruodolfus, Erkingarius, Gislebertus, Ratbodus, Arnulfus, Hugo, item Chuonradus, Liutharius, Berengarius, Matfridus, Boso, Sigeri, Hartmannus, Liuthardus, Richuinus, Wigricus, Hunfridus, Bernoldus, Hatto, Adalbertus, Burchardus, Christianus, Leutulfus, Hessi, Herimannus, item Hruodulfus, Sigehardus"[13], although it is not known whether "…Boso…" refers to the same person. His brother-in-law Charles II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks gave him the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune. "Boso comes simulque Bernardus comes ad vicem" donated Nogent "in pago Otmense" for the soul of "quondam amici nostri Odonis comitis…uxoris suæ Guendilmodis" to Saint-Martin-des-Tours by charter dated 871 after 21 Jun[14]. He was invested as Comte de Vienne in 870 by King Charles II after the latter conquered the kingdom of Provence. He was installed as Comte de Berry in [872] after the deposition of Gérard comte en Aquitaine. He accompanied King Charles II to Italy in 875. An agreement dated Feb 876 of Charles II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks names "Bosonis…ducis et sacri palatii archiministri atque imperiali missi" among those present in Italy with the king[15]. He was invested as dux regni Italici at Pavia in Feb 876, fulfilling the role of viceroy in the absence of the king. Recalled by Emperor Charles in early 877, Boson left his brother Richard in his place in Italy and became Governor and Comte de Provence [877]. He took part in the general rebellion of 877, refusing to swear allegiance to Louis II "le Bègue" King of the West Franks on his accession[16]. After the death of King Louis II, "Hugo abbas et Boso et alii" sent "Walterum Episcopum Aurelianensem et Goiranum et Anscherum comites" to Ludwig III King of the East Franks to offer him part of the kingdom in 879[17]. He was named King BOSON[18] at Mantaille, near Vienne 15 Oct 879 by the archbishops of Vienne, Besançon, Lyon, Tarentaise, Aix and Arles, and crowned at Lyon a few days later. He installed his capital at Vienne. The reigning Carolingian monarchs formed a league against him, captured Lyon, and besieged Vienne which fell in 882, although Boson refused to capitulate[19]. The Annales Fuldenses record that the sons of Ludwig II " der Deutsche" King of the East Franks fought "Buosonem in Galliam" in 880 and expelled him from "Madasconam urbem", accepting homage from "Bernhardum qui in ea principatum tenebat"[20]. The Annales Fuldenses record the death in 887 of "Buosone", leaving a young son by "filia Hludowici Italici regis"[21]. The epitaph of "Bosonis Regis" records his death "III Id Jan VIII anno regni sui"[22].
[m firstly ---. The name of the supposed first wife of King Boson is not known. The only reference to her existence so far identified is in the Annales Fuldenses which record that "Buosone comite" abducted "filiam Hludowicis imperatoris de Italiam" by force in 878, having poisoned his wife[23]. If this is correct, it is surprising that it is not reported in any other contemporary source. However, as shown below, the chronology is favourable for one of the possible daughters attributed to King Boson to have been born from a first marriage, although as the existence of this daughter is not certain this represents a circular argument for proving the fact of the king´s supposed first marriage.]
m [secondly] ([Mar/Jun] 876) ERMENGARDIS, daughter of Emperor LOUIS II King of Italy & his wife Engelberga --- ([852/55]-896 before 2 Jun, bur Vienne, Isère, cathédrale de Saint-Maurice). "Hludowicus…imperator augustus" granted the abbey of San Salvatore to "nostra coniux…Angilberga ante filiam…nostrum Hermengardem" by charter dated at Venosa 28 Apr 868[24]. Regino records the marriage of "Hirmingardem filiam Hludowici imperatoris" and "Bosoni germano Richildis reginæ"[25]. "Ludowicus…rex" granted "nepta nostra Hirmingarda" property at Morcula and Almenno in the county of Bergamo by a charter dated 26 Feb 875[26]. Abbess of San Salvatore at Brescia 878. The Annales Fuldenses record that "Buosone comite" abducted "filiam Hludowicis imperatoris de Italiam" by force in 878, having poisoned his wife[27]. "Boso…et coniunx mea Hirmingardi proles imperiales" donated property "in pago Laticense…in villa Lantinus" to the abbey of Montiérender by charter dated 25 Jul 879, subscribed by "Richardi comitis, Teutbaldi comitis, Bernardi comitis"[28]. The Annales Bertiniani name "Richardus frater Bosonis" when recording that, after the capture of Vienne by the forces of King Carloman, he took "uxorem Bosonis et filiam eius" back to "comitatum suum Augustudensem" in 882[29]. She was regent for her son King Louis from 890.