Richelida
Encyclopedia
Richelida or Richilda was the first wife of Boniface III of Tuscany
. They were married probably before 1015.
Richilda was the daughter of Giselbert II, Count of Bergamo, Her father was a count palatine
in Rogeneto and imperial vicar
first in Reggio nell'Emilia (1021) and then Verona
.
Richilda received a grant of land in the county of Ferrara
from the Emperor Henry II in 1016. In 1017, she made a grant of land to the abbey of Nonantula with her husband. Though he at that time was styling himself marchio (margrave
), in both documents she bore only the title "countess." The first document bears a signum manus pro Richilde Comitissa.
Richilda was reputed a great benefactor of the poor according to Domnizo, the biographer of her stepdaughter Matilda of Canossa. Richilda had one daughter who predeceased her. She died sometime after 1034, but before her widower's second marriage to Beatrice of Bar
. She was buried in Nogara
, in a church she had endowed well.
Boniface III of Tuscany
Boniface III , son of Tedald of Canossa and the father of Matilda of Canossa, was the most powerful north Italian prince of his age...
. They were married probably before 1015.
Richilda was the daughter of Giselbert II, Count of Bergamo, Her father was a count palatine
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
in Rogeneto and imperial vicar
Imperial vicar
An imperial vicar was a prince charged with administering all or part of the Holy Roman Empire on behalf of the Emperor. Later, an imperial vicar was invariably one of two princes charged by the Golden Bull with administering the Holy Roman Empire during an interregnum.The Holy Roman Empire had no...
first in Reggio nell'Emilia (1021) and then Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
.
Richilda received a grant of land in the county of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
from the Emperor Henry II in 1016. In 1017, she made a grant of land to the abbey of Nonantula with her husband. Though he at that time was styling himself marchio (margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
), in both documents she bore only the title "countess." The first document bears a signum manus pro Richilde Comitissa.
Richilda was reputed a great benefactor of the poor according to Domnizo, the biographer of her stepdaughter Matilda of Canossa. Richilda had one daughter who predeceased her. She died sometime after 1034, but before her widower's second marriage to Beatrice of Bar
Beatrice of Bar
Beatrice of Bar was the marchioness of Tuscany from 1053 to her death as the wife of Boniface III of Tuscany...
. She was buried in Nogara
Nogara
Nogara is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 100 km southwest of Venice and about 30 km south of Verona....
, in a church she had endowed well.