Bertha of Holland (c. 1055 – 15 October 1094), also known as Berthe or Bertha of Frisia and erroneously as Berta or Bertrada, was Queen of France from 1072 until 1092, as the first wife of King Philip I of France. Bertha's marriage to the king in 1072 was a result of peace negotiations between him and her stepfather, Count Robert I of Flanders. After nine years of childlessness, the royal couple had three children, including Philip's successor, Louis VI. Philip, however, grew tired of his wife by 1090, and repudiated her in 1092 in order to marry the already married Bertrade of Montfort. That marriage was a scandal since both Philip and Bertrade were already married to other people, at least until Queen Bertha died the next year.
Bertha was the daughter of Count Floris I of Holland and Gertrude of Saxony.[1] Bertha had six siblings and both of her parents came from large families. Her father ruled a territory vaguely described as "Friesland west of the Vlie", which is where Bertha spent her childhood.[2] Count Floris I was assassinated in 1061,[2] and two years later her mother remarried to Robert of Flanders.[3] Robert, now known as Robert the Frisian, became guardian of Bertha and her six siblings.[2] In 1070, Robert the Frisian became involved in a war with King Philip I of France over succession to the County of Flanders.[2][4] Within two years, Robert and Philip concluded a peace treaty which was to be sealed by a marriage; Robert's own daughters were too young, but their half-sister Bertha was just the right age.[2] Robert thus agreed to the marriage of his stepdaughter to King Philip. Bertha married Philip, thus becoming queen of the Franks, probably in 1072.[2][3]
Queenshipedit
Queen Bertha and King Philip with their children
Bertha was, at the time, the lowest-ranking woman to marry a French king; no suitable princess could be found, since they were all too closely related to Philip for the marriage to any of them to be seen as perfectly valid by the Church. Bertha had no kings among her traceable ancestors and lacked even tenuous links with the Carolingian that her predecessors could claim. Consequently, contemporary chroniclers did not even try to present her lineage as more exalted than that of a count's daughter. Nevertheless, the shortage of royal candidates made Bertha a suitable choice.[5] The regal title she gained by this marriage was prestigious, but had little meaning, as she was confined to her husband's small royal domain that covered little more than areas around Paris and Orléans.[2]
Little is known about Bertha's queenship. She co-signed only three donation charters. However, she plays a prominent role in the hagiography titled Vita Arnulfi. The hagiography describes how she used her regal power (vi regia) to expel Abbot Gerard of Saint-Médard and reinstate the former abbot, Pontius, who had been removed due to his mismanagement of the abbey. Saint Arnulf of Soissons warned her that doing so would incur the wrath of God and lead to her being driven out of the kingdom into exile, where she would die despised and miserable. The queen furiously refused to listen to him. Although all the extant versions of Vita Arnulfi refer to the queen as Bertrada, it is clear that the queen mentioned in the hagiography is Bertha of Holland, given that the events mentioned in it took place while Bertha was queen and more than a decade before she was replaced as such by Bertrade (or Bertrada) of Montfort. The hagiography, however, was written after Bertha died and during Bertrade's queenship, which might explain the name confusion.[2]
Childlessnessedit
For six years, King Philip and Queen Bertha were troubled by their childlessness and especially by the lack of male children,[4] which was not unusual among the early male members of the House of Capet.[3] Things suddenly took a different course, however, when the Queen had three children in quick succession: a daughter named Constance in 1078 and two sons, the long-hoped heir named Louis in 1081 and Henry, born in 1083 and who died in infancy.[3][4] The birth of the long-awaited heir apparent had such a great impact that a story of a miracle developed around it. Reportedly, the couple's fertility was only restored thanks to the prayers of a hermit, Saint Arnulf of Soissons. Arnulf informed Queen Bertha that she was expecting a son and that it would be appropriate to give him the Carolingian name of Louis. A daughter, Constance, soon followed. Bertha gave birth to one more son, named Henry, but he appears to have died in infancy or childhood.[2][4]
Repudiationedit
King Philip marries Countess Bertrada, with Queen Bertha imprisoned in a castle
After the birth of three children, the marriage began breaking apart. The King became tired of his wife but the reasons are unclear. Contemporary chroniclers give different explanations. According to the English historian William of Malmesbury, Philip complained that Bertha was "too fat", though he was himself becoming too obese to ride a horse.[3][4] In 1092, Philip announced his decision to divorce "the noble and virtuous daughter of Florent count of Holland and stepdaughter of Robert the Frisian" and marry the already married Bertrade of Montfort, the wife of Count Fulk IV of Anjou. The repudiated queen withdrew to the fortress of Montreuil-sur-Mer, which was part of her dower land.[3] By doing so, Philip infuriated his stepfather-in-law. Bertha died soon thereafter, on 15 October 1094.[6] This simplified matters for Philip who was now free to remarry—though not the Countess of Anjou, whose husband Fulk was still living.[4]
In 1108, Philip died. The son of the queen who had been repudiated ostensibly for her obesity ascended the French throne as Louis VI. Both he and her fraternal nephew, Count Floris II of Holland, were nicknamed "the Fat".[2]
^William (of Malmesbury), Gesta Regum Anglorum: The History of the English Kings: General introduction and commentary, Volume 2, Roger Aubrey Baskerville Mynors, Rodney M. Thomson and Michael Winterbottom (Oxford University Press, 1999), 244.
^ abcdefghijvan Bussel, Marion (2012). "Bertha van Holland (ca. 1055–1094)". Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
^ abcdefBradbury, Jim (2007). The Capetians: The History of a Dynasty. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN978-0826435149.
^Bouchard, Constance Brittain (2001). Those of My Blood: Creating Noble Families in Medieval Francia. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN0812235908.
^Nieuwenhuijsen, Kees (2016). Strijd om West-Frisia. De ontstaansgeschiedenis van het graafschap Holland: 900-1100. Omniboek, Utrecht, p. 221. ISBN9789401907569.
bertha, holland, 1055, october, 1094, also, known, berthe, bertha, frisia, erroneously, berta, bertrada, queen, france, from, 1072, until, 1092, first, wife, king, philip, france, bertha, marriage, king, 1072, result, peace, negotiations, between, stepfather, . Bertha of Holland c 1055 15 October 1094 also known as Berthe or Bertha of Frisia and erroneously as Berta or Bertrada was Queen of France from 1072 until 1092 as the first wife of King Philip I of France Bertha s marriage to the king in 1072 was a result of peace negotiations between him and her stepfather Count Robert I of Flanders After nine years of childlessness the royal couple had three children including Philip s successor Louis VI Philip however grew tired of his wife by 1090 and repudiated her in 1092 in order to marry the already married Bertrade of Montfort That marriage was a scandal since both Philip and Bertrade were already married to other people at least until Queen Bertha died the next year Bertha of HollandQueen consort of the FranksTenure1072 1092Bornc 1055Vlaardingen NetherlandsDied15 October 1094Montreuil Pas de Calais FranceSpousePhilip I of FranceIssueConstance Princess of AntiochLouis VI of FranceHouseGerulfingFatherFloris I Count of HollandMotherGertrude of SaxonyReligionRoman Catholicism Contents 1 Early life 2 Queenship 2 1 Childlessness 3 Repudiation 4 Issue 5 ReferencesEarly life edit nbsp Bertha of Holland marrying King Philip IBertha was the daughter of Count Floris I of Holland and Gertrude of Saxony 1 Bertha had six siblings and both of her parents came from large families Her father ruled a territory vaguely described as Friesland west of the Vlie which is where Bertha spent her childhood 2 Count Floris I was assassinated in 1061 2 and two years later her mother remarried to Robert of Flanders 3 Robert now known as Robert the Frisian became guardian of Bertha and her six siblings 2 In 1070 Robert the Frisian became involved in a war with King Philip I of France over succession to the County of Flanders 2 4 Within two years Robert and Philip concluded a peace treaty which was to be sealed by a marriage Robert s own daughters were too young but their half sister Bertha was just the right age 2 Robert thus agreed to the marriage of his stepdaughter to King Philip Bertha married Philip thus becoming queen of the Franks probably in 1072 2 3 Queenship edit nbsp Queen Bertha and King Philip with their childrenBertha was at the time the lowest ranking woman to marry a French king no suitable princess could be found since they were all too closely related to Philip for the marriage to any of them to be seen as perfectly valid by the Church Bertha had no kings among her traceable ancestors and lacked even tenuous links with the Carolingian that her predecessors could claim Consequently contemporary chroniclers did not even try to present her lineage as more exalted than that of a count s daughter Nevertheless the shortage of royal candidates made Bertha a suitable choice 5 The regal title she gained by this marriage was prestigious but had little meaning as she was confined to her husband s small royal domain that covered little more than areas around Paris and Orleans 2 Little is known about Bertha s queenship She co signed only three donation charters However she plays a prominent role in the hagiography titled Vita Arnulfi The hagiography describes how she used her regal power vi regia to expel Abbot Gerard of Saint Medard and reinstate the former abbot Pontius who had been removed due to his mismanagement of the abbey Saint Arnulf of Soissons warned her that doing so would incur the wrath of God and lead to her being driven out of the kingdom into exile where she would die despised and miserable The queen furiously refused to listen to him Although all the extant versions of Vita Arnulfi refer to the queen as Bertrada it is clear that the queen mentioned in the hagiography is Bertha of Holland given that the events mentioned in it took place while Bertha was queen and more than a decade before she was replaced as such by Bertrade or Bertrada of Montfort The hagiography however was written after Bertha died and during Bertrade s queenship which might explain the name confusion 2 Childlessness edit For six years King Philip and Queen Bertha were troubled by their childlessness and especially by the lack of male children 4 which was not unusual among the early male members of the House of Capet 3 Things suddenly took a different course however when the Queen had three children in quick succession a daughter named Constance in 1078 and two sons the long hoped heir named Louis in 1081 and Henry born in 1083 and who died in infancy 3 4 The birth of the long awaited heir apparent had such a great impact that a story of a miracle developed around it Reportedly the couple s fertility was only restored thanks to the prayers of a hermit Saint Arnulf of Soissons Arnulf informed Queen Bertha that she was expecting a son and that it would be appropriate to give him the Carolingian name of Louis A daughter Constance soon followed Bertha gave birth to one more son named Henry but he appears to have died in infancy or childhood 2 4 Repudiation edit nbsp King Philip marries Countess Bertrada with Queen Bertha imprisoned in a castleAfter the birth of three children the marriage began breaking apart The King became tired of his wife but the reasons are unclear Contemporary chroniclers give different explanations According to the English historian William of Malmesbury Philip complained that Bertha was too fat though he was himself becoming too obese to ride a horse 3 4 In 1092 Philip announced his decision to divorce the noble and virtuous daughter of Florent count of Holland and stepdaughter of Robert the Frisian and marry the already married Bertrade of Montfort the wife of Count Fulk IV of Anjou The repudiated queen withdrew to the fortress of Montreuil sur Mer which was part of her dower land 3 By doing so Philip infuriated his stepfather in law Bertha died soon thereafter on 15 October 1094 6 This simplified matters for Philip who was now free to remarry though not the Countess of Anjou whose husband Fulk was still living 4 In 1108 Philip died The son of the queen who had been repudiated ostensibly for her obesity ascended the French throne as Louis VI Both he and her fraternal nephew Count Floris II of Holland were nicknamed the Fat 2 Issue editTogether Philip and Bertha had three children Constance 1078 14 September 1126 married Hugh I of Champagne before 1097 and then after her divorce to Bohemund I of Antioch in 1106 Louis VI of France 1 December 1081 1 August 1137 Henry b 1083 died young References edit William of Malmesbury Gesta Regum Anglorum The History of the English Kings General introduction and commentary Volume 2 Roger Aubrey Baskerville Mynors Rodney M Thomson and Michael Winterbottom Oxford University Press 1999 244 a b c d e f g h i j van Bussel Marion 2012 Bertha van Holland ca 1055 1094 Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland Retrieved 8 February 2013 a b c d e f Bradbury Jim 2007 The Capetians The History of a Dynasty Continuum International Publishing Group ISBN 978 0826435149 a b c d e f Luscombe David Riley Smith Jonathan 2004 The New Cambridge Medieval History Volume 4 c 1024 c 1198 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521414113 Bouchard Constance Brittain 2001 Those of My Blood Creating Noble Families in Medieval Francia University of Pennsylvania Press ISBN 0812235908 Nieuwenhuijsen Kees 2016 Strijd om West Frisia De ontstaansgeschiedenis van het graafschap Holland 900 1100 Omniboek Utrecht p 221 ISBN 9789401907569 French royaltyPreceded byAnne of Kiev Queen consort of the Franks1072 1092 Succeeded byBertrade of Montfort Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bertha of Holland amp oldid 1173857451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
