Engelberga
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Engelberga (or Angilberga, died between 896 and 901) was the wife of Louis II, Holy Roman Emperor, from 5 October 851 to his death on 12 August 875. As empress, she exerted a powerful influence over her husband. Her family, the Supponids, prospered during Louis's reign. Engelberga was probably the daughter of Adelchis I of Parma.
In 868, she became abbess of San Salvatore in Brescia, a convent with a history of royal abbesses. In 896, she became abbess of her own foundation of San Sisto in Piacenza.
In January 872, the aristocracy tried to have her removed, as she had not borne the emperor any sons. Instead, Louis opened negotiations with Louis the German, King of East Francia, to make him his heir. In order to sideline Engelberga, the nobility elected Charles the Bald, King of West Francia, on Louis's death. Boso V of Arles, a faithful of Charles, kidnapped Engelberga and her only surviving daughter, Ermengard. He forced the latter to marry him in June 876, at the same time he was made Charles' governor in Italy with the title of dux.
With Engelberga's backing, Boso declare himself King of Provence on 15 October 879. Subsequently, Engelberga was banished to Swabia. After Charles the Fat's forces took Vienne in 882, Engelberga was allowed to return to Italy and confirmed in her possessions.
| Preceded by Ermengard of Tours |
Empress of the Holy Roman Empire 855-875 |
Succeeded by Richilde of Metz |
| Queen consort of Italy 851-875 |
[edit] Sources
- Wickham, Chris. Early Medieval Italy: Central Power and Local Society 400-1000. MacMillan Press: 1981.
- Gay, Jules. L'Italie méridionale et l'empire Byzantin: Livre I. Burt Franklin: New York, 1904.
