Gisela, daughter of Louis the Pious
Encyclopedia
Gisela was the youngest daughter of Louis the Pious
and his second wife, Judith of Bavaria. She married the powerful and influential Evrard, Duke of Friuli, later canonized
as Saint Evrard, with whom she had several children including King
Berengar I of Italy
, Margrave of Friuli, and Ingeltrude (whose grandson, Henry the Fowler, would start the famous Ottonian Dynasty of German kings). Gisela was renowned her piety and virtue, much like her namesake (Gisela), the beloved sister of Charlemagne
, who had chosen the religious life from girlhood.
Her dowry
consisted of many rich domains including the fisc
of Cysoing
; located at the center of the country of Pèvele, Cysoing was one of the most beautiful fiscs in the region and became one of her and Evrard's regular residences. They founded a monastery
there, which was not completed until after their deaths.
The nunnery San Salvatore
was given to her after Ermengarde
, wife of Lothair I. For a time she served as both abbess
and rectrix.
Also, she presented to the Church the mosaics which still exist in the cathedral at Aquileia
. They contain (what is most remarkable for that time) a Crucifixion, the Virgin, St. George, the portrait of Gisela, and various allegorical figures.
She dedicated herself to the education of her and Evrard's many children.
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious , also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781. He was also King of the Franks and co-Emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813...
and his second wife, Judith of Bavaria. She married the powerful and influential Evrard, Duke of Friuli, later canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
as Saint Evrard, with whom she had several children including King
King of Italy
King of Italy is a title adopted by many rulers of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire...
Berengar I of Italy
Berengar I of Italy
Berengar of Friuli was the Margrave of Friuli from 874 until no earlier than 890 and no later than 896, King of Italy from 887 until his death, and Holy Roman Emperor from 915 until his death.Berengar rose to become one of the most influential laymen in the empire of Charles the Fat before he...
, Margrave of Friuli, and Ingeltrude (whose grandson, Henry the Fowler, would start the famous Ottonian Dynasty of German kings). Gisela was renowned her piety and virtue, much like her namesake (Gisela), the beloved sister of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, who had chosen the religious life from girlhood.
Her dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
consisted of many rich domains including the fisc
Fisc
Under the Merovingians and Carolingians, the fisc applied to the royal demesne which paid taxes, entirely in kind, from which the royal household was meant to be supported, though it rarely was...
of Cysoing
Cysoing
Cysoing is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is southeast of Lille.-Heraldry:-References:*...
; located at the center of the country of Pèvele, Cysoing was one of the most beautiful fiscs in the region and became one of her and Evrard's regular residences. They founded a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
there, which was not completed until after their deaths.
The nunnery San Salvatore
San Salvatore, Brescia
San Salvatore is a former monastery in Brescia, Lombardy, northern Italy, now turned into a museum. The monastic complex is famous for the diversity of its architecture which include Roman remains and significant pre-Romanesque, Romanesque and Renaissance buildings.In 2011, it became a UNESCO...
was given to her after Ermengarde
Ermengarde of Tours
Ermengarde of Tours was the wife of Emperor Lothair I of the Franks. Her father was Hugh of Tours, a member of the Etichonen family, which claimed descent from the Merovingian Kings...
, wife of Lothair I. For a time she served as both abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
and rectrix.
Also, she presented to the Church the mosaics which still exist in the cathedral at Aquileia
Aquileia
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in what is now Italy, at the head of the Adriatic at the edge of the lagoons, about 10 km from the sea, on the river Natiso , the course of which has changed somewhat since Roman times...
. They contain (what is most remarkable for that time) a Crucifixion, the Virgin, St. George, the portrait of Gisela, and various allegorical figures.
She dedicated herself to the education of her and Evrard's many children.