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____ Engelberge
Birth: ABT 825
Death: ABT 900
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engelberga
Engelberga (or Angilberga, died between 896 and 901) was the wife of Louis II, Holy
Roman Emperor and remained the Holy Roman Empress to his death on 12 August
875.[1] As empress, she exerted a powerful influence over her husband. She was
probably the daughter of Adelchis I of Parma and a member of one of the most
powerful families in the Kingdom of Italy at that time, the Supponids.
Born around 830, she probably spent her youth in Pavia.[1] She married Louis II on
October 5, 851, but did not play a role in political life until after the death of his
father, Lothair I, in 855. Upon his death, Lothair's kingdom was divided between his
three sons[2] and, as the eldest, Louis received Italy and the title of emperor.
In 856, the imperial couple were hosted in Venice by Doge Pietro Tradonico and his
son Giovanni Tradonico.[1] A few years later, Engelberga began to exert her influence
in a conflict between Pope Nicholas I and Archbishop John of Ravenna. Seen as
insubordinate by the Pope, John was thrice summoned to appear before a papal
tribunal. Instead, he took refuge in the imperial court at Pavia, where Engelberga
attempted to intervene with Rome on his behalf. Though ultimately unsuccessful, the
incident was the beginning of Engelberga's efforts to assert her influence as empress.
[1]
In 862, Louis's brother Lothair II sought to annul his marriage to Teutberga, as she
had failed to bear him any children. The local bishops had blessed the annulment and
Lothair's subsequent remarriage, but in November 863, Pope Nicolas summoned the
bishops to Rome and excommunicated them for their violation of ecclesiastical law.
The bishops fled to Louis's court and pleaded their case, resulting in the Emperor
laying siege to the Holy See in January 864. Engelberga sent a communication to
Nicholas, guaranteeing his safety if he were to come to court to negotiate with her
husband. Their meeting resulted in an agreement whereby the bishops were allowed to
return and the siege was ended.[1]
In subsequent years she was granted additional titles by her husband, due in large
part to her diplomatic role. In 868, she became abbess of San Salvatore, Brescia, a
convent with a history of royal abbesses.[3]
In January 872, the aristocracy tried to have her removed, as she had not borne the
emperor any sons. Instead, Louis opened negotiations with Louis the German, King of
East Francia, to make him his heir. In order to sideline Engelberga, the nobility elected
Charles the Bald, King of West Francia, on Louis's death in 875. Boso V of Arles, a
faithful of Charles, kidnapped Engelberga and her only surviving daughter, Ermengard.
He forced the latter to marry him in June 876, at the same time he was made Charles'
governor in Italy with the title of dux.
With Engelberga's backing, Boso declared himself King of Provence on 15 October
879. Subsequently, Engelberga was banished to Swabia. After Charles the Fat's forces
took Vienne in 882, Engelberga was allowed to return to Italy. In 896, she became
abbess of her own foundation of San Sisto, Piacenza, but died shortly afterward.
Parents
OF SPOLETO Adelchis (ABT 780 - ABT 834)
----- ----- ()
Siblings
____ Suppo II (ABT 820 - ABT 885)
____ Engelberge (ABT 825 - ABT 900)
Marriage To ____ Louis II ( 825 - 12 Aug 875)
m.
Notes
Parents
____ Lothar (Lothaire) I (ABT 798 - 29 Sep 855)
OF TOURS Ermengarde (ABT 800 - 20 Mar 851)
Children by ____ Louis II 825 - 12 Aug 875
____ Ermengard ( 843 - 2 Jun 896)
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