Infanta Teresa, Countess of Flanders
Encyclopedia
Infanta Theresa of Portugal (Coimbra
, c. 1157; – Veurne
, May 6, 1218; tɨˈɾezɐ or [ˈtɾezɐ]) was a Portuguese
infanta (princess), being the third daughter of Portuguese 1st King Afonso Henriques
and Maud of Savoy
. She was born c. 1157 and died in 1218 in Veurne
, Flanders
.
Around 1183 she married Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders
, becoming Countess consort of Flanders. Because of the difficulty of pronouncing her name, she changed it to Matilde (Matilda or Mahaut).
Her marriage was celebrated (in the Tournai Cathedral
, Bruges
) after the death of Elisabeth of Vermandois, first wife of Philip, who hadn't given him any children, and was because Philip needed an heir so that his county wouldn't fall into French
hands. For its part, Portugal, a new-born country, managed to secure an important alliance with Flanders, and European recognition. Theresa brought a considerable dowry, something that helped Philip manage his war with France for a couple of more years, before making peace in 1186. A reasonable number of Portuguese immigrants (mainly merchants) also went to Flanders with the infanta.
Matilda lived in one of the most luxurious royal courts of Europe, in which Philip patronized Chrétien de Troyes
, author of a famous cycle of Arthurian
stories and one of the fathers of the Graal
theme in literature.
However, like Elisabeth of Vermandois, Matilda never gave birth, and after Philip's death, the county went to his sister Margaret I, Countess of Flanders
.
After Philip's death in August 1191, she would marry again, this time to Odo III, Duke of Burgundy, in 1193. She interceded favourably with the king of France, for the marriage of her nephew Infante Ferdinand of Portugal
with her grand-niece Joan, Countess of Flanders. Her second marriage produced no children, and so, she ended up being repudiated by the Duke, so that he could marry Alice of Vergy
. She returned to Flanders and would be instrumental in arranging the marriage of her nephew Ferdinand to her first husband's grandniece Joan. She died when her carriage accidentally fell into a marsh near Veurne
where she drowned.
She has been reported to be Afonso I of Portugal
's favourite daughter. In a work by Portuguese historian Maria Roma, she is described as beautiful and as a "prideful woman with a vyril energy", of the fibre of her grandmother Theresa, Countess of Portugal
.
She is tenderly celebrated in Bruges every year.
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, c. 1157; – Veurne
Veurne
Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
, May 6, 1218; tɨˈɾezɐ or [ˈtɾezɐ]) was a Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
infanta (princess), being the third daughter of Portuguese 1st King Afonso Henriques
Afonso I of Portugal
Afonso I or Dom Afonso Henriques , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , nicknamed "the Conqueror" , "the Founder" or "the Great" by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali and Ibn-Arrik by the Moors whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal...
and Maud of Savoy
Maud of Savoy
Maud of Savoy was the first Queen of Portugal. She was Queen consort through her marriage, in 1146, to King Afonso I, the first ruler of Portugal as an independent kingdom....
. She was born c. 1157 and died in 1218 in Veurne
Veurne
Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
, Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
Around 1183 she married Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders
Count of Flanders
The Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
, becoming Countess consort of Flanders. Because of the difficulty of pronouncing her name, she changed it to Matilde (Matilda or Mahaut).
Her marriage was celebrated (in the Tournai Cathedral
Tournai Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady is Roman Catholic church, see of the Diocese of Tournai in Tournai, Belgium. It has been classified both as a Wallonia's major heritage since 1936 and as a World Heritage Site since 2000.-History:...
, Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
) after the death of Elisabeth of Vermandois, first wife of Philip, who hadn't given him any children, and was because Philip needed an heir so that his county wouldn't fall into French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
hands. For its part, Portugal, a new-born country, managed to secure an important alliance with Flanders, and European recognition. Theresa brought a considerable dowry, something that helped Philip manage his war with France for a couple of more years, before making peace in 1186. A reasonable number of Portuguese immigrants (mainly merchants) also went to Flanders with the infanta.
Matilda lived in one of the most luxurious royal courts of Europe, in which Philip patronized Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and trouvère who flourished in the late 12th century. Perhaps he named himself Christian of Troyes in contrast to the illustrious Rashi, also of Troyes...
, author of a famous cycle of Arthurian
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
stories and one of the fathers of the Graal
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
theme in literature.
However, like Elisabeth of Vermandois, Matilda never gave birth, and after Philip's death, the county went to his sister Margaret I, Countess of Flanders
Margaret I, Countess of Flanders
Margaret I of Flanders was countess of Flanders from 1191 to her death.-History:She was the daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Sibylla of Anjou, and the heiress of her childless brother, Philip of Flanders.-Family:...
.
After Philip's death in August 1191, she would marry again, this time to Odo III, Duke of Burgundy, in 1193. She interceded favourably with the king of France, for the marriage of her nephew Infante Ferdinand of Portugal
Infante Fernando, Count of Flanders
Infante Ferdinand of Portugal, Count of Flanders was a Portuguese infante, fourth son of Portuguese King Sancho I and Dulce of Aragon...
with her grand-niece Joan, Countess of Flanders. Her second marriage produced no children, and so, she ended up being repudiated by the Duke, so that he could marry Alice of Vergy
Alice of Vergy
Alice de Vergy was duchess consort of Burgundy as the second spouse of Eudes III, Duke of Burgundy. She was regent the of Burgundy during the minority of her son 1218–28....
. She returned to Flanders and would be instrumental in arranging the marriage of her nephew Ferdinand to her first husband's grandniece Joan. She died when her carriage accidentally fell into a marsh near Veurne
Veurne
Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
where she drowned.
She has been reported to be Afonso I of Portugal
Afonso I of Portugal
Afonso I or Dom Afonso Henriques , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , nicknamed "the Conqueror" , "the Founder" or "the Great" by the Portuguese, and El-Bortukali and Ibn-Arrik by the Moors whom he fought, was the first King of Portugal...
's favourite daughter. In a work by Portuguese historian Maria Roma, she is described as beautiful and as a "prideful woman with a vyril energy", of the fibre of her grandmother Theresa, Countess of Portugal
Theresa, Countess of Portugal
Theresa of Portugal was the first ruler of independent Portugal...
.
She is tenderly celebrated in Bruges every year.