Engelberga
Encyclopedia
Engelberga was the wife of Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor
, from 5 October 851 to his death on 12 August 875. As empress, she exerted a powerful influence over her husband. Her family, the Supponids, prospered during Louis's reign. Engelberga was probably the daughter of Adelchis I of Parma
.
In 868, she became abbess
of San Salvatore in Brescia
, a convent with a history of royal abbesses. In 896, she became abbess of her own foundation of San Sisto in Piacenza
.
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. 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 declare 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 and confirmed in her possessions.
Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis II the Younger was the King of Italy and Roman Emperor from 844, co-ruling with his father Lothair I until 855, after which he ruled alone. Louis's usual title was imperator augustus , but he used imperator Romanorum after his conquest of Bari in 871, which led to poor relations with Byzantium...
, from 5 October 851 to his death on 12 August 875. As empress, she exerted a powerful influence over her husband. Her family, the Supponids, prospered during Louis's reign. Engelberga was probably the daughter of Adelchis I of Parma
Adelchis I of Spoleto
Adelchis I or Adelgis I was the Count of Parma by the 830s, of Cremona after 841, and eventually of Brescia. According to some sources, he succeeded to the Duchy of Spoleto in 824. He was a second son of Suppo I and father of Suppo II. His main area of interest was in the Aemilia and eastern...
.
In 868, she became abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of San Salvatore in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, a convent with a history of royal abbesses. In 896, she became abbess of her own foundation of San Sisto in Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
.
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
Louis the German
Louis the German , also known as Louis II or Louis the Bavarian, was a grandson of Charlemagne and the third son of the succeeding Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife, Ermengarde of Hesbaye.He received the appellation 'Germanicus' shortly after his death in recognition of the fact...
, King of East Francia, to make him his heir. In order to sideline Engelberga, the nobility elected Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
, King of West Francia, on Louis's death. Boso V of Arles
Boso of Provence
Boso was a Frankish nobleman from the Bosonid-family, who was related to the Carolingian dynasty, who rose to become King of Provence ....
, a faithful of Charles, kidnapped Engelberga and her only surviving daughter, Ermengard
Ermengard of Provence
Ermengard was the only surviving daughter of Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor. In 876, she married Boso, from the Bosonid, Count of Vienne, who declared himself King of Provence in 879....
. 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
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
.
With Engelberga's backing, Boso declare himself King of Provence on 15 October 879. Subsequently, Engelberga was banished to Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
. After Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat was the King of Alemannia from 876, King of Italy from 879, western Emperor from 881, King of East Francia from 882, and King of West Francia from 884. In 887, he was deposed in East Francia, Lotharingia, and possibly Italy, where the records are not clear...
's forces took Vienne
Vienne
Vienne is the northernmost département of the Poitou-Charentes region of France, named after the river Vienne.- Viennese history :Vienne is one of the original 83 departments, established on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Poitou,...
in 882, Engelberga was allowed to return to Italy and confirmed in her possessions.