Gerberga of Saxony

Gerberga of Saxony (c. 913–5 May, 984) was a daughter of Henry the Fowler, king of Germany, and Matilda of Ringelheim.

She married first Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine. They had four children:

*Gerberge of Lorraine b. about 925. Married Adalbert I of Vermandois.
*Alberade of Lorraine b. about 929. Married Renaud (originally as Ragenold), a Viking chieftain who became the Count of Roucy [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORTHERN%20FRANCE.htm#RagenoldRoucydied967] .
*Henri, Duke of Lorraine b. about 932
*Wiltrude, Duchess of Bavaria b. about 937. Married Berthold, Duke of Bavaria.

She married secondly Louis IV of France in 939. They were parents to eight children:

*Lothair of France (941-986)
*Mathilde b. about 943; married Conrad of Burgundy
*Hildegarde b. about 944
*Carloman b. about 945
*Louis b. about 948
*Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine (953-993)
*Alberade b. before 953
*Henri b. about 953

Contemporary sources describe her as a highly educated, intelligent and forceful player in the political game of the time.

Louis IV died on 10 September, 954. As a widow, Gerberga became a nun and served as the abbess of Notre Dame in Laon. She died in Reims, Champagne.

ources

*Bouchard, Constance Brittain. (2001) Those of My Blood: Constructing Noble Families in Medieval Francia. University of Pennsylvania Press.
* [http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower03.htm" Women in power 750-1000" from Guide2womenleaders.com, last accessed January 13, 2007]

External links

* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p10325.htm von Sachsen line from thePeerage.com]
* [http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/r46.html Royal Genealogies]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6240885 Find A Grave profile for Queen Gerberge]