Ermesinde (July 1186 – 12 February 1247) ruled as the countess of Luxembourg from 1197 until her death. She was the only child of Count Henry IV and his second wife Agnes of Guelders.
Prior to her birth, Ermesinde's aging father, Count Henry IV of Luxembourg, had recognized his nephew Count Baldwin V of Hainaut as his heir presumptive. However, the 74-year-old count reunited with his estranged wife, Agnes of Guelders, and fathered a daughter, Ermesinde, who displaced Baldwin as heir presumptive.[1] Upon Henry's death in 1196, a war of succession took place. At its end, it was decided that Henry's fiefs would be split: Baldwin would have Namur, Ermesinde would have Durbuy and La Roche, and Luxembourg would revert to their common liege, Emperor Henry VI, who then gave it to his brother Otto.
Ruleedit
Ermesinde was initially betrothed to Count Henry II of Champagne, but the engagement was cancelled in 1189. Instead her first husband was Count Theobald I of Bar.[2] He successfully negotiated with Count Philip I of Namur and his brother Count Baldwin IX of Flanders for renunciation of Luxembourg, thus making Theobald and Ermesinde the count and countess of Luxembourg.[3]
When Theobald died in 1214, Ermesinde married Count Waleran III of Limburg (1180–1226), with whom she then ruled Luxembourg.[2] In 1223 Ermesinde and Waleran pressed their claim to Namur against Philip II, but were ultimately unsuccessful. After Waleran's death, Ermesinde ruled Luxembourg alone for two decades. She proved to be an effective administrator, granting charters of freedom to several towns and increasing the prosperity of her country.[1]
Graveedit
Sarcophagus of Countess Ermesinde
According to legend, Ermesinde saw the Virgin Mary, and planned the construction on that spot of the Clairefontaine Abbey.[2] In her will she asked that she be buried at this location. The abbey was built by her son, Henry V.[4] After many years, the abbey was destroyed in the late 18th century by French troops. In 1747, shortly before the old abbey was destroyed by French troops, the nuns had hidden Ermesinde's remains in a chapel, where they were found by the Jesuits during 1875-1877 reconstructions. The remains are now in the crypt of the chapel of Clairefontaine.
Childrenedit
The children of Ermesinde and her first husband, Theobald I of Bar, were:
Renaud (died before 1214), Seigneur of Briey
Elisabeth (died 1262), married Valéran of Limburg, Lord of Monschau
Margaret (d?), first married Hugh III, Count of Vaudémont (died 1243); later married Henry of Bois, regent of Vaudémont.
ermesinde, countess, luxembourg, earlier, countess, namur, ermesinde, luxembourg, countess, namur, ermesinde, july, 1186, february, 1247, ruled, countess, luxembourg, from, 1197, until, death, only, child, count, henry, second, wife, agnes, guelders, ermesinde. For the earlier countess of Namur see Ermesinde of Luxembourg Countess of Namur Ermesinde July 1186 12 February 1247 ruled as the countess of Luxembourg from 1197 until her death She was the only child of Count Henry IV and his second wife Agnes of Guelders ErmesindeCountess of LuxembourgReign1197 12 February 1247PredecessorOtto ISuccessorHenry VBornJuly 1186Died12 February 1247 aged 60 61 BurialAbbey of Notre Dame de Clairefontaine ArlonSpouseTheobald I Count of Bar m 1197 1214 his death Waleran III Duke of Limburg m 1214 1226 his death Issuemore Henry V Count of Luxembourg Gerard I Count of DurbuyHouseHouse of NamurFatherHenry IV Count of LuxembourgMotherAgnes of Guelders Contents 1 Succession 2 Rule 3 Grave 4 Children 5 References 6 External linksSuccession editPrior to her birth Ermesinde s aging father Count Henry IV of Luxembourg had recognized his nephew Count Baldwin V of Hainaut as his heir presumptive However the 74 year old count reunited with his estranged wife Agnes of Guelders and fathered a daughter Ermesinde who displaced Baldwin as heir presumptive 1 Upon Henry s death in 1196 a war of succession took place At its end it was decided that Henry s fiefs would be split Baldwin would have Namur Ermesinde would have Durbuy and La Roche and Luxembourg would revert to their common liege Emperor Henry VI who then gave it to his brother Otto Rule editErmesinde was initially betrothed to Count Henry II of Champagne but the engagement was cancelled in 1189 Instead her first husband was Count Theobald I of Bar 2 He successfully negotiated with Count Philip I of Namur and his brother Count Baldwin IX of Flanders for renunciation of Luxembourg thus making Theobald and Ermesinde the count and countess of Luxembourg 3 When Theobald died in 1214 Ermesinde married Count Waleran III of Limburg 1180 1226 with whom she then ruled Luxembourg 2 In 1223 Ermesinde and Waleran pressed their claim to Namur against Philip II but were ultimately unsuccessful After Waleran s death Ermesinde ruled Luxembourg alone for two decades She proved to be an effective administrator granting charters of freedom to several towns and increasing the prosperity of her country 1 Grave edit nbsp Sarcophagus of Countess ErmesindeAccording to legend Ermesinde saw the Virgin Mary and planned the construction on that spot of the Clairefontaine Abbey 2 In her will she asked that she be buried at this location The abbey was built by her son Henry V 4 After many years the abbey was destroyed in the late 18th century by French troops In 1747 shortly before the old abbey was destroyed by French troops the nuns had hidden Ermesinde s remains in a chapel where they were found by the Jesuits during 1875 1877 reconstructions The remains are now in the crypt of the chapel of Clairefontaine Children editThe children of Ermesinde and her first husband Theobald I of Bar were Renaud died before 1214 Seigneur of Briey Elisabeth died 1262 married Valeran of Limburg Lord of Monschau Margaret d first married Hugh III Count of Vaudemont died 1243 later married Henry of Bois regent of Vaudemont The children of Ermesinde and Waleran III Count of Limburg were Henry V of Luxembourg 1216 1281 Count of Luxembourg 2 Gerard I of Durbuy Count of Durbuy died 1276 Catherine of Limburg died 1255 wife of Matthias II Duke of LorraineReferences edit a b Tutton Thomas Rivalries Battles and the Great Ermesinde RTL Today February 28 2020 a b c d P Peporte Historiography Collective Memory and Nation Building in Luxembourg Brill 2011 109 110 via Brill subscription required John A Gade Luxemburg in the Middle Ages Brill 1951 74 75 P Peporte Historiography Collective Memory and Nation Building in Luxembourg 115 External links edit nbsp Media related to Ermesinde of Luxembourg at Wikimedia CommonsErmesinde Countess of LuxembourgHouse of NamurBorn 1186 Died 12 February 1247Preceded byOtto Countess of Luxembourg1197 1247 Succeeded byHenry V Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ermesinde Countess of Luxembourg amp oldid 1186634076, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
