Adelheid of Meissen
Encyclopedia
Adelheid of Meissen (c. 1160 – 2 February 1211) was the first Queen consort
of Ottokar I of Bohemia
.
. She met her future husband in the 1170s, in the time of his exile. It is possible that this marriage (1178) was forced on grounds of her pregnancy. Adelheid gave birth to a son, Vratislaus, soon.
Shortly after the marriage the couple could return to Bohemia—Ottokar's brother Frederick assumed the reins of Bohemia and Ottokar was one of the leaders of his army. In 1192 Ottokar himself became duke but in 1193 was deposed. He left Bohemia together with his family then.
Adelheid came to her brother and Přemysl Ottokar became a mercenary of German dukes. In this time the couple got estranged. Ottokar decided to solve the problem in a way exclusive to all dynastic principles.
In 1199, Ottokar (now the king) divorced Adelheid, on grounds of consanguinity
. They were both descendants of Henry of Schweinfurt
and Mieszko II Lambert
and were fifth cousin once removed or fourth cousin once removed. He married Constance of Hungary
, who was Ottokar's fourth cousin thrice removed, later in the same year. Adelheid did not waive her rights. In 1205 she returned to Prague for a while. Ottokar decided to marry his daughter with Adelheid, Dagmar/Markéta
, to Valdemar II of Denmark
in this time. However, Constance gave birth to a son, later king Wenceslaus, in 1205. Then Adelheid and her daughters left Bohemia permanently.
The pope decided that the cessation of marriage is legal. Adelheid still struggled, but in
1210 definitely lost. She died in 1211 in Meissen.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Ottokar I of Bohemia
Ottokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
.
Marriage
Adelheid was born about 1160 as the daughter of Otto II, Margrave of MeissenOtto II, Margrave of Meissen
Otto II was the Margrave of Meissen from 1157 until his death in 1190. His father was Conrad the Great and his son was Dietrich I, Margrave of Meissen. He is a direct patrilineal ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, King Albert II of Belgium and Simeon II of Bulgaria....
. She met her future husband in the 1170s, in the time of his exile. It is possible that this marriage (1178) was forced on grounds of her pregnancy. Adelheid gave birth to a son, Vratislaus, soon.
Shortly after the marriage the couple could return to Bohemia—Ottokar's brother Frederick assumed the reins of Bohemia and Ottokar was one of the leaders of his army. In 1192 Ottokar himself became duke but in 1193 was deposed. He left Bohemia together with his family then.
Adelheid came to her brother and Přemysl Ottokar became a mercenary of German dukes. In this time the couple got estranged. Ottokar decided to solve the problem in a way exclusive to all dynastic principles.
Two Queens
In the end of 1197 Ottokar became duke for the second time. He repudiated his wife and also his adult son. Ottokar was at least 40 at that time and risked losing the heir. Adelheid and her daughters stayed in Meissen, while her son Vratislaus became a mercenary in Germany and Italy.In 1199, Ottokar (now the king) divorced Adelheid, on grounds of consanguinity
Consanguinity
Consanguinity refers to the property of being from the same kinship as another person. In that respect, consanguinity is the quality of being descended from the same ancestor as another person...
. They were both descendants of Henry of Schweinfurt
Henry of Schweinfurt
Henry of Schweinfurt was the Margrave of the Nordgau from 994 until 1004. He was called the "glory of eastern Franconia" by his own cousin, the chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg....
and Mieszko II Lambert
Mieszko II Lambert
Mieszko II Lambert was King of Poland during 1025–1031, and Duke from 1032 until his death.He was the second son of Bolesław I the Brave, but the eldest born from his third wife Emmilda, daughter of Dobromir, possible ruler of Lusatia. He was probably named after his paternal grandfather, Mieszko I...
and were fifth cousin once removed or fourth cousin once removed. He married Constance of Hungary
Constance of Hungary
Constance of Hungary was the second Queen consort of Ottokar I of Bohemia.-Family:Constance was a daughter of Béla III of Hungary and his first wife Agnes of Antioch. Her older siblings included Emeric, King of Hungary, Margaret of Hungary and Andrew II of Hungary...
, who was Ottokar's fourth cousin thrice removed, later in the same year. Adelheid did not waive her rights. In 1205 she returned to Prague for a while. Ottokar decided to marry his daughter with Adelheid, Dagmar/Markéta
Margarethe of Bohemia
Dagmar of Bohemia was Queen consort of Denmark as the first spouse of King Valdemar II of Denmark. She was the daughter of King Přemysl I Ottokar of Bohemia and his first wife, Adelheid of Meissen.-Family:Markéta had one brother, Vratislav, and two sisters, Božislava and Hedwig/Hedvika...
, to Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
in this time. However, Constance gave birth to a son, later king Wenceslaus, in 1205. Then Adelheid and her daughters left Bohemia permanently.
The pope decided that the cessation of marriage is legal. Adelheid still struggled, but in
1210 definitely lost. She died in 1211 in Meissen.
Issue
- Vratislav (before 1181 – after 1225)
- DagmarMargarethe of BohemiaDagmar of Bohemia was Queen consort of Denmark as the first spouse of King Valdemar II of Denmark. She was the daughter of King Přemysl I Ottokar of Bohemia and his first wife, Adelheid of Meissen.-Family:Markéta had one brother, Vratislav, and two sisters, Božislava and Hedwig/Hedvika...
(Markéta) (ca 1186 – 24 May 1213), married to Valdemar II of DenmarkValdemar II of DenmarkValdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
, King of Denmark - Božislava
- Hedvika