Liutgard of Saxony
| Liutgard of Saxony | |
|---|---|
| Queen of the Franks | |
 Liutgard in the pedigree of the Ottonian dynasty, Chronica sancti Pantaleonis, Cologne, 12th century | |
| Queen consort of the Franks East Frankish queen | |
| Tenure | 876-882 |
| Predecessor | Hemma |
| Successor | Richardis |
| Queen consort of Lotharingia | |
| Tenure | 876/80-882 |
| Predecessor | Adelaide of Paris |
| Successor | Richardis |
| Queen consort of Bavaria | |
| Tenure | 880-882 |
| Predecessor | Hemma |
| Successor | Richardis |
| Spouse |
Louis the Younger Burchard I, Duke of Swabia |
| Issue |
Louis Hildegard Burchard II, Duke of Swabia Udalrich Dietpirch |
| House |
House of Brunonen (by birth) Carolingian dynasty (by first marriage) Hunfridings (by second marriage) |
| Father | Liudolf, Duke of Saxony |
| Mother | Oda Billung |
| Born | c. 845 |
| Died | 17 November 885 (aged 39–40) |
| Burial | Aschaffenburg, Franconia |
Liutgard of Saxony (c. 845 – 17 November 885) was Queen of the Franks (East Frankish queen) from 876 until 882 by her marriage with King Louis the Younger.
Biography
She was born between 840 and 850, the daughter of the Saxon count Liudolf (805/20–866), a progenitor of the Ottonian dynasty (Liudolfings), and his wife Oda of Billung (805/06–913).
Before 29 November 874, Liutgard married the Carolingian ruler Louis the Younger (830/835–882), second son of King Louis the German - whose first engagement with a daughter of the Frankish seneschal Adalard had been dissolved in 865 - at Aschaffenburg, Franconia. They had two children:
- Louis (877–879), reportedly died after a fall from a window of the Imperial palace in Frankfurt
- Hildegard (c. 879 – after 899), became a nun in Frauenchiemsee Abbey, Bavaria.
Liutgard was especially noted for her strong will and political ambition, a reliable supporter of her husband. She is seen as a driving force behind King Louis' struggle with the West Frankish king Charles the Bald around the possession of Lotharingia, culminating in the 876 Battle of Andernach and ending in the final acquisition of the Lotharingian realm by the 880 Treaty of Ribemont.
After Louis' death, she married in 882 the Hunfriding duke Burchard I of Swabia (855/60–911). They had three children:
- Burchard II (883/84–926), Duke of Swabia from 917
- Udalrich (884/85–885)
- Dietpirch of Swabia (also known as Theoberga), married the Swabian count Hupald of Dillingen (d. 909),[1] mother of Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg.[2]
| German royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Adelaide of Paris |
Queen consort of Lotharingia 876–882 |
Succeeded by Richardis |
| Preceded by Emma of Altdorf |
Queen consort of East Francia 876–882 | |
| Queen consort of Bavaria 880–882 | ||
References
- ↑ Cawley, Charles, Profile of Burchard I and his children, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, retrieved August 2012,
- ↑ Cawley, Charles, Profile of Hupald and his children, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, retrieved August 2012,