Bertha, daughter of Lothair II: Difference between revisions
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'''Bertha''' (863-8 March 925 in [[Lucca]]) was the second illegitimate daughter of [[Lothair II of Lotharingia|Lothair II]], [[King of Lotharingia]], by his concubine Waldrada.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/551042 C. W. Previté Orton. "Italy and Provence, 900-950."</ref> She was renowned to be beautiful, spirited, and courageous. Ambition, coupled with her influence, involved her husbands in many wars. |
'''Bertha''' (863-8 March 925 in [[Lucca]]) was the second illegitimate daughter of [[Lothair II of Lotharingia|Lothair II]], [[King of Lotharingia]], by his concubine Waldrada.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/551042 C. W. Previté Orton. "Italy and Provence, 900-950."</ref> She was renowned to be beautiful, spirited, and courageous. Ambition, coupled with her influence, involved her husbands in many wars. |
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Between 879 and 880, she firstly married the [[Bosonid]] [[Theobald of Arles]], who was a son of [[Hucbert]], brother-in-law of Lothair II. With Theobald she had two sons: [[Hugh of Italy|Hugh]] (before 885 – 10 April 948<ref>Previté Orton, 347.</ref>), later [[king of Italy]] and [[Boso of Tuscany|Boso]] (885–936). Her second husband was [[Adalbert II of Tuscany]], by which she had two other sons, [[Guy of Tuscany|Guy]] and [[Lambert of Tuscany|Lambert]] (who ruled Tuscany later), and a daughter, Ermengard, who married [[Adalbert I of Ivrea]].<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/551042 C. W. Previté Orton. "Italy and Provence, 900-950."</ref> Guy |
Between 879 and 880, she firstly married the [[Bosonid]] [[Theobald of Arles]], who was a son of [[Hucbert]], brother-in-law of Lothair II. With Theobald she had two sons: [[Hugh of Italy|Hugh]] (before 885 – 10 April 948<ref>Previté Orton, 347.</ref>), later [[king of Italy]] and [[Boso of Tuscany|Boso]] (885–936). Her second husband was [[Adalbert II of Tuscany]], by which she had two other sons, [[Guy of Tuscany|Guy]] and [[Lambert of Tuscany|Lambert]] (who ruled Tuscany later), and a daughter, Ermengard, who married [[Adalbert I of Ivrea]].<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/551042 C. W. Previté Orton. "Italy and Provence, 900-950."</ref> After the death of Adalbert II in 815, Guy became the [[count]] and [[duke]] of [[Lucca]] and [[margrave]] [[margrave of Tuscany|of Tuscany]]. His mother was his [[regent]] from his father's death until 916. Bertha died on 8 March 925 in Lucca. |
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When Hugh desired to marry [[Marozia]], the widow of his half-brother Guy who died in 928 or 929, Hugh tried to eliminate Bertha's descendants by Adalbert II. Hugh was already married, but had that marriage annulled so that Hugh and Marozia could be wed. [[Alberic II]], Marozia's son, led the opposition to the rule of Marozia and Hugh. After deposing them in 932, at the very wedding ceremonies, Alberic II imprisoned his mother until her death. Hugh escaped the city. |
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Bertha is also known for her curious correspondence to [[al-Muktafi|Caliph al-Muktafi]] in 906, in which she described herself rather grandly as "Queen of the Franks". Bertha's letter is of interest in that she appears to have little knowledge of Baghdad politics or culture, and it is for this reason that details of her correspondence were recorded by one of the Muslim chroniclers. Bertha was seeking a marriage alliance between herself and the Emir of Sicily, unaware that al-Mukfati has little influence over the [[Aghlabid]] colony in Sicily. Moreover, the letter was written in a language unfamiliar to the Caliph's translators, and the accompanying gifts (among them a multicoloured woollen coat) which no doubt indicated a largesse on Bertha's part, were unlikely to have impressed al-Muktafi beyond their novelty value.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=VRXTzPOly-oC&printsec=frontcover&dq=muslims+of+medieval+italy+alex+metcalfe&hl=en&ei=hq2CTZe5A4r2swPtmuD9AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Muslims of Medieval Italy, Google Books]</ref> |
Bertha is also known for her curious correspondence to [[al-Muktafi|Caliph al-Muktafi]] in 906, in which she described herself rather grandly as "Queen of the Franks". Bertha's letter is of interest in that she appears to have little knowledge of Baghdad politics or culture, and it is for this reason that details of her correspondence were recorded by one of the Muslim chroniclers. Bertha was seeking a marriage alliance between herself and the Emir of Sicily, unaware that al-Mukfati has little influence over the [[Aghlabid]] colony in Sicily. Moreover, the letter was written in a language unfamiliar to the Caliph's translators, and the accompanying gifts (among them a multicoloured woollen coat) which no doubt indicated a largesse on Bertha's part, were unlikely to have impressed al-Muktafi beyond their novelty value.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=VRXTzPOly-oC&printsec=frontcover&dq=muslims+of+medieval+italy+alex+metcalfe&hl=en&ei=hq2CTZe5A4r2swPtmuD9AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false Muslims of Medieval Italy, Google Books]</ref> |
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Revision as of 10:36, 25 August 2013
Bertha (863-8 March 925 in Lucca) was the second illegitimate daughter of Lothair II, King of Lotharingia, by his concubine Waldrada.[1] She was renowned to be beautiful, spirited, and courageous. Ambition, coupled with her influence, involved her husbands in many wars.
Between 879 and 880, she firstly married the Bosonid Theobald of Arles, who was a son of Hucbert, brother-in-law of Lothair II. With Theobald she had two sons: Hugh (before 885 – 10 April 948[2]), later king of Italy and Boso (885–936). Her second husband was Adalbert II of Tuscany, by which she had two other sons, Guy and Lambert (who ruled Tuscany later), and a daughter, Ermengard, who married Adalbert I of Ivrea.[3] After the death of Adalbert II in 815, Guy became the count and duke of Lucca and margrave of Tuscany. His mother was his regent from his father's death until 916. Bertha died on 8 March 925 in Lucca.
When Hugh desired to marry Marozia, the widow of his half-brother Guy who died in 928 or 929, Hugh tried to eliminate Bertha's descendants by Adalbert II. Hugh was already married, but had that marriage annulled so that Hugh and Marozia could be wed. Alberic II, Marozia's son, led the opposition to the rule of Marozia and Hugh. After deposing them in 932, at the very wedding ceremonies, Alberic II imprisoned his mother until her death. Hugh escaped the city.
Bertha is also known for her curious correspondence to Caliph al-Muktafi in 906, in which she described herself rather grandly as "Queen of the Franks". Bertha's letter is of interest in that she appears to have little knowledge of Baghdad politics or culture, and it is for this reason that details of her correspondence were recorded by one of the Muslim chroniclers. Bertha was seeking a marriage alliance between herself and the Emir of Sicily, unaware that al-Mukfati has little influence over the Aghlabid colony in Sicily. Moreover, the letter was written in a language unfamiliar to the Caliph's translators, and the accompanying gifts (among them a multicoloured woollen coat) which no doubt indicated a largesse on Bertha's part, were unlikely to have impressed al-Muktafi beyond their novelty value.[4]
References
- ^ http://www.jstor.org/stable/551042 C. W. Previté Orton. "Italy and Provence, 900-950."
- ^ Previté Orton, 347.
- ^ http://www.jstor.org/stable/551042 C. W. Previté Orton. "Italy and Provence, 900-950."
- ^ Muslims of Medieval Italy, Google Books
Bibliography
Metcalfe, A. (2009) Muslims of Medieval Italy (Edinburgh University Press)
Previté Orton, C. W. "Italy and Provence, 900-950." The English Historical Review Vol. 32, No. 127 (Jul., 1917) (pp. 335–347)