His cousin, Arnulf, archbishop of Rheims, was illegitimate, while the counts of Vermandois were direct male-line descendants of Charlemagne through Bernard, king of Italy, the illegitimate son of Pepin of Italy.
His cousin archbishop of Rheims, was illegitimate. The counts of Vermandois were direct male-line descendants of Charlemagne through Bernard the illegitimate son of Pepin of Italy. Charlemagne through Bernard was king of Italy. Arnulf was his cousin.