Matilda of Germany (979–1025)
Encyclopedia
Matilda of Germany or Matilde of Saxony (Summer 979-November 1025 Echtz) Was the third daughter of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
and his wife Empress Theophanu
.
, where her older cousin Matilde was Abbess, Matilda was educated here. It was presumed that Matilda would stay in the Abbey and become an Abbess like here older sisters Adelheid I, Abbess of Quedlinburg
and Sophia I, Abbess of Gandersheim
.
However, Matilda lived a different life than her two sisters, she was to marry Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia. According to the Historian Thietmar of Merseburg Matilda's brother Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
did not like the idea of the marriage at first. The family gave the couple large gifts to secure the adequate standard of living. The Empress Theophanu had consented to the marriage. Ezzo then took Matilda out of the Abbey where she had lived. However, Abbess Mathilde had vainly refused to surrender the girl. Later romantic embellishments even claimed Ezzo had previously been secretly in love with the young Matilda. Ezzo took Matilda from the Abbey to marry her.
Matilda's mother Theophanu had always agreed to the wedding but Matilda's cousin and teacher Abbess Matilde did not agree to the marriage. Without the consent of Matilda's mother the marriage would not happen with certainty, it is even likely that this marriage was to ensure the power of Otto III. The family had extensive estates in the Lower Rhine and Mosel. Ezzo's mother came from the House of Swabia and so Ezzo laid claims to these lands. Matilda received them out of Ottonian possessions and gave them to her husband.
Ezzo and Matilda had married for love and their marriage was very happy. In any case, it was extremely fruitful, with ten children:
Matilda apparently died unexpectedly during a visit to Ezzo's brother Hermann, while Ezzo was held in Aachen
, at a meeting of the nobility of Lorraine. Matilda was buried at Brauweiler Abbey
.
Matilda was the mother of the famous Richeza of Lotharingia who became Queen of Poland and was later beatified.
Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto II , called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Italy.-Early years and co-ruler with Otto I:...
and his wife Empress Theophanu
Theophanu
Theophanu , also spelled Theophania, Theophana or Theophano, was born in Constantinople, and was the wife of Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor.-Family:...
.
Life
Shortly after her birth, Matilda was sent to Essen AbbeyEssen Abbey
Essen Abbey was a collegiate foundation for women of the high nobility in Essen. It was founded in about 845 by the Saxon Altfrid , later Bishop of Hildesheim and saint, near a royal estate called Astnidhi, which later gave its name to the religious house and to the town...
, where her older cousin Matilde was Abbess, Matilda was educated here. It was presumed that Matilda would stay in the Abbey and become an Abbess like here older sisters Adelheid I, Abbess of Quedlinburg
Adelheid I, Abbess of Quedlinburg
Adelaide I was Abbess of Quedlinburg and Gandersheim, as well as highly influential kingmaker of medieval Germany.- Early life :...
and Sophia I, Abbess of Gandersheim
Sophia I, Abbess of Gandersheim
Sophia I , also known as Sophie I, was Abbess of Gandersheim and an important kingmaker of the medieval Germany.- Early life :...
.
However, Matilda lived a different life than her two sisters, she was to marry Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia. According to the Historian Thietmar of Merseburg Matilda's brother Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto III , a King of Germany, was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected King in 983 on the death of his father Otto II and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 996.-Early reign:...
did not like the idea of the marriage at first. The family gave the couple large gifts to secure the adequate standard of living. The Empress Theophanu had consented to the marriage. Ezzo then took Matilda out of the Abbey where she had lived. However, Abbess Mathilde had vainly refused to surrender the girl. Later romantic embellishments even claimed Ezzo had previously been secretly in love with the young Matilda. Ezzo took Matilda from the Abbey to marry her.
Matilda's mother Theophanu had always agreed to the wedding but Matilda's cousin and teacher Abbess Matilde did not agree to the marriage. Without the consent of Matilda's mother the marriage would not happen with certainty, it is even likely that this marriage was to ensure the power of Otto III. The family had extensive estates in the Lower Rhine and Mosel. Ezzo's mother came from the House of Swabia and so Ezzo laid claims to these lands. Matilda received them out of Ottonian possessions and gave them to her husband.
Ezzo and Matilda had married for love and their marriage was very happy. In any case, it was extremely fruitful, with ten children:
- LiudolfLiudolf of LotharingiaLiudolf of Lotharingia, also Ludolf , was Count of Zutphen and Waldenburg.He was born in Saxony about 1000, the eldest son of Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia, and his wife Matilde of Germany, daughter of the Emperor Otto I...
(c. 1000–10 April 1031), Count of Zütphen. - Otto IOtto II, Duke of SwabiaOtto II was Count Palatine of Lotharingia , then Duke of Swabia , and all the while Count in Deutz and Auelgau . He was the son of Ezzo and Matilda , and a member of the Ezzonian dynasty...
(died 1047), Count PalatineCount palatineCount 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:...
of LotharingiaLotharingiaLotharingia was a region in northwest Europe, comprising the Low Countries, the western Rhineland, the lands today on the border between France and Germany, and what is now western Switzerland. It was born of the tripartite division in 855, of the kingdom of Middle Francia, itself formed of the...
and later Duke of SwabiaDuke of SwabiaThe following is a list of Dukes of Swabia in southwest Germany.Swabia was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German kingdom, and its dukes were thus among the most powerful magnates of Germany. The most notable family to hold Swabia were the Hohenstaufen, who held it, with a brief...
as Otto II. - Hermann IIHermann II, Archbishop of CologneHerman II , of the Ezzonian dynasty, a son of Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia, was the Archbishop of Cologne from 1036 until his death.He became archchancellor of the Regnum Italicum and protector of Brauweiler...
(995–1056), Archbishop of CologneArchbishopric of CologneThe Electorate of Cologne was an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire and existed from the 10th to the early 19th century. It consisted of the temporal possessions of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne . It was ruled by the Archbishop in his function as prince-elector of...
. - Theophanu (died 1056), Abbess of EssenEssen AbbeyEssen Abbey was a collegiate foundation for women of the high nobility in Essen. It was founded in about 845 by the Saxon Altfrid , later Bishop of Hildesheim and saint, near a royal estate called Astnidhi, which later gave its name to the religious house and to the town...
and Gerresheim. - Richeza of Lotharingia (died 21 March 1063), Queen of Poland, married King Mieszko II of PolandMieszko II LambertMieszko II Lambert was King of Poland during 1025–1031, and Duke from 1032 until his death.He was the second son of Bolesław I the Brave, but the eldest born from his third wife Emmilda, daughter of Dobromir, possible ruler of Lusatia. He was probably named after his paternal grandfather, Mieszko I...
. - Adelheid (died c. 1030), Abbess of Nijvel (Nivelles).
- Heylwig, Abbess of NeussNeussNeuss is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the west bank of the Rhine opposite Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district and owes its prosperity to its location at the crossing of historic and modern trade routes. It is primarily known...
. - Mathilde, Abbess of Dietkirchen and Villich.
- Sophie, Abbess of St. Maria, Mainz.
- Ida (died 1060), Abbess of CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and Gandersheim AbbeyGandersheim AbbeyGandersheim Abbey is a former house of secular canonesses in the present town of Bad Gandersheim in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was founded in 852 by Duke Liudolf of Saxony, progenitor of the Liudolfing or Ottonian dynasty, whose rich endowments ensured its stability and prosperity.The "Imperial...
(founded in 852 by her ancestor Liudolf, Duke of SaxonyLiudolf, Duke of SaxonyLiudolf was a Saxon count, son of one count Brun and his wife Gisla von Verla ; later authors called him duke of the Eastern Saxons and count of Eastphalia...
).
Matilda apparently died unexpectedly during a visit to Ezzo's brother Hermann, while Ezzo was held in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, at a meeting of the nobility of Lorraine. Matilda was buried at Brauweiler Abbey
Brauweiler Abbey
Brauweiler Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery located at Brauweiler, now in Pulheim near Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany....
.
Matilda was the mother of the famous Richeza of Lotharingia who became Queen of Poland and was later beatified.