Ermesinde of Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
Ermesinde of Luxembourg (1186 – February 12, 1247), also known as Ermesinde of Namur, was the Countess of Luxembourg, Laroche
and Durbuy
between 1197 and 1247. She was the only child of Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg and Namur
, and his second wife Agnes of Guelders.
Prior to her birth, her aging father Henry IV had designated Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
as his likely successor. However, when Ermesinde was born in 1186 and Henry IV named her as his heir, a war of succession inevitably took place. At its end, it was decided that Baldwin would have Namur, Ermesinde would have Durbuy and La Roche, and that Luxembourg would revert to the Holy Roman Empire (Emperor Henry VI
then gave the fief to his brother Otto of Burgundy
).
Ermesinde was initially betrothed to Henry II of Champagne
, but the engagement was cancelled in 1189. Instead her first husband was Theobald I of Bar
(1158–1214). He successfully negotiated with Otto I, Count of Burgundy
for the latter's renunciation of Luxembourg, thus making Theobald and Ermesinde the Count and Countess of Luxembourg. When Theobald died in 1214, Ermesinde married Waleran III of Limburg
(1180–1226), who would rule as the Count of Luxembourg. In 1223 Ermesinde and Waleran pressed their claim to Namur
against Margrave Philip II
, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
After Walram's death, Ermesinde ruled Luxembourg alone for two decades. She proved to be an effective administrator, granting charters of freedom to several towns and increasing the prosperity of her country.
were:
The children of Ermesinde and Waleran III of Limburg
were:
Laroche
-People:*Dave LaRoche, baseball pitcher, father of Adam and Andy LaRoche*Adam LaRoche, baseball first baseman for the Washington Nationals, son of Dave, and brother of Andy...
and Durbuy
Durbuy
Durbuy is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. On 1 January 2007 the municipality had 10,633 inhabitants. The total area is 156.61 km², giving a population density of 67.9 inhabitants per km²....
between 1197 and 1247. She was the only child of Henry IV, Count of Luxembourg and Namur
Henry IV of Luxembourg
Henry IV , called the Blind , was count of Luxembourg from 1136 and count of Namur from 1139 until his abdication in 1189. He was the son of Godfrey I of Namur and Ermesinda, daughter of Conrad I of Luxembourg.He inherited the counties of La Roche and Durbuy from his cousins Henry II of Durbuy and...
, and his second wife Agnes of Guelders.
Prior to her birth, her aging father Henry IV had designated Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut
Baldwin V of Hainaut was count of Hainaut , count of Flanders as Baldwin VIII and margrave of Namur as Baldwin I .-History:...
as his likely successor. However, when Ermesinde was born in 1186 and Henry IV named her as his heir, a war of succession inevitably took place. At its end, it was decided that Baldwin would have Namur, Ermesinde would have Durbuy and La Roche, and that Luxembourg would revert to the Holy Roman Empire (Emperor Henry VI
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
then gave the fief to his brother Otto of Burgundy
Otto I, Count of Burgundy
Otto I was Count of Burgundy from 1190 to his death and briefly Count of Luxembourg from 1196 to 1197...
).
Ermesinde was initially betrothed to Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne
Henry II of Champagne was count of Champagne from 1181 to 1197, and King of Jerusalem from 1192 to 1197, although he never used the title of king.- Early Life and Family :...
, but the engagement was cancelled in 1189. Instead her first husband was Theobald I of Bar
Theobald I of Bar
Jean Theobald I of Bar was count of Bar from 1190 until his death, and a count of Luxemburg from 1197 until his death. He was the son of Reginald II of Bar and his wife Agnès de Champagne...
(1158–1214). He successfully negotiated with Otto I, Count of Burgundy
Otto I, Count of Burgundy
Otto I was Count of Burgundy from 1190 to his death and briefly Count of Luxembourg from 1196 to 1197...
for the latter's renunciation of Luxembourg, thus making Theobald and Ermesinde the Count and Countess of Luxembourg. When Theobald died in 1214, Ermesinde married Waleran III of Limburg
Waleran III of Limburg
Waleran III was initially lord of Montjoie, then count of Luxembourg from 1214. He became count of Arlon and duke of Limburg on his father's death in 1221. He was the son of Henry III of Limburg and Sophia of Saarbrücken.As a younger son, he did not expect to inherit...
(1180–1226), who would rule as the Count of Luxembourg. In 1223 Ermesinde and Waleran pressed their claim to Namur
Namur (province)
Namur is a province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Walloon provinces of Hainaut, Walloon Brabant, Liège and Luxembourg in Belgium, and on France. Its capital is the city of Namur...
against Margrave Philip II
Philip II of Namur
Philip II , called à la lèvre, was the margrave of Namur from 1212 to his death. He was the eldest son of the Peter II of Courtenay and Yolanda of Flanders. On the death of his maternal uncle Philip the Noble, Philip inherited Namur as the designated heir.Philip had to fight the descendants of...
, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
After Walram's death, Ermesinde ruled Luxembourg alone for two decades. She proved to be an effective administrator, granting charters of freedom to several towns and increasing the prosperity of her country.
Children
The children of Ermesinde and her first husband Theobald I of BarTheobald I of Bar
Jean Theobald I of Bar was count of Bar from 1190 until his death, and a count of Luxemburg from 1197 until his death. He was the son of Reginald II of Bar and his wife Agnès de Champagne...
were:
- Renaud (died before 1214), Seigneur of Briey
- Elisabeth (died 1262), married Valéran of Limburg, Lord of Monschau
- Margaret (d?), first married Hugh III, Count of Vaudémont (died 1243); later married Henry of Bois, regent of Vaudémont.
The children of Ermesinde and Waleran III of Limburg
Waleran III of Limburg
Waleran III was initially lord of Montjoie, then count of Luxembourg from 1214. He became count of Arlon and duke of Limburg on his father's death in 1221. He was the son of Henry III of Limburg and Sophia of Saarbrücken.As a younger son, he did not expect to inherit...
were:
- Henry V of LuxembourgHenry V of LuxembourgHenry V the Blond , called the Great, was the count of Luxembourg, Laroche and Arlon from 1247 to his death and the count of Namur between 1256 and 1264 as Henry III...
(1216–1281), Count of Luxembourg - Gérard I of DurbuyGérard I of DurbuyGérard I of Durbuy , was the Count of Durbuy from 1247 to his death. He was the second son of Waleran III of Limburg and Ermesinda of Luxembourg....
, Count of Durbuy (died 1276) - Catherine of Limburg (died 1255), wife of Matthias II, Duke of LorraineMatthias II, Duke of LorraineMatthias II was Duke of Lorraine from 1220 to his death. He was the son of Duke Frederick II and Agnes of Bar and succeeded his brother, Theobald I....
External links
- Ermesinde de Luxembourg's French Wikipedia page
- ERMENSENDE de Namur
- Namur Family Genealogy