Kerrebrouck says there is no proof that Hugues was the son of Hilduin Comte de Montreuil, and that he could have been a member of the family of Enguerrand, one of whom was abbé de Saint-Riquier at the beginning of the 11th century. The Chronique de Saint Riquier records that Hugues "Capet" King of France granted the château d'Abbeville "à un chevalier nommé Hugues" and also confiscated "Forest-Moutier" from the abbey of Saint-Riquier and granted it to him, recording in a later passage that Hugues bore the title "avoué" not comte. These territories became the foundation of the county of Ponthieu.

He was chosen by Hugh Capet, duke of France (not yet king), to be "advocate of the abbey of Saint-Riquier and castellan of Abbeville". He also received Hugh Capet's daughter, Gisela, in marriage.

Hugh's origins are unknown, and the date which he received his fief is only "ascertainable within broad limits" as c.980. He is not known to have ever styled himself Count of Ponthieu.

[edit] Family

He married ca. 994 Gisèle Capet, daughter of Hugh Capet and Adelaide of Aquitaine. Enguerrand I of Ponthieu was first to take the comital title after killing Arnold II of Boulogne in battle, sometime between 1024 and 1027, and marrying his widow. Thus, the counts of Ponthieu, who figure prominently in early Norman history, were even newer to their status as landed lords than the Normans. Guy of Ponthieu was also his son.