Emma of Blois ( 950–27 December 1003) was Duchess consort of
Aquitaine
Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 January ...
by marriage to
William IV, Duke of Aquitaine
William IV (937 – 3 February 994), called Fierebras or Fierebrace (meaning "Proud Arm", from the French ''Fier-à-bras'' or ''Fièrebrace'', in turn from the Latin ''Ferox brachium''), was the Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou from 963 ...
. She ruled Aquitaine as regent for her son,
William V, Duke of Aquitaine
William the Great (french: Guillaume le Grand; 969 – 31 January 1030) was duke of Aquitaine (as ) and count of Poitou (as or III) from 990 until his death. Upon the death of the emperor Henry II, he was offered the kingdom of Ital ...
, from 996 until 1004.
Life
She was the daughter of
Theobald I, Count of Blois
Theobald I (913–975), called the Trickster (known as ''le Tricheur'' –meaning “cheater”– in French), was first Viscount of Blois and Viscount of Tours, and then from 956, Count of Blois, Chartres and Châteaudun, as well as Count of To ...
and
Luitgarde of Vermandois
Luitgarde of Vermandois ( – 9 February 978) was a French noblewoman. She was a countess of Vermandois by birth and a duchess consort of Normandy by her first marriage, and a countess consort of Blois by her second. She was a daughter of H ...
.
In 968, she married
William IV, Duke of Aquitaine
William IV (937 – 3 February 994), called Fierebras or Fierebrace (meaning "Proud Arm", from the French ''Fier-à-bras'' or ''Fièrebrace'', in turn from the Latin ''Ferox brachium''), was the Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou from 963 ...
. His overindulging in hunting and women offended her greatly. Around 990, he retired to a monastery. During the course of her marriage, she founded the monastery of
Saint Peter in Bourgueil and the abbey of Maillezais. Emma then ruled Aquitaine as regent for their son
William V William V may refer to:
*William V, Duke of Aquitaine (969–1030)
*William V of Montpellier (1075–1121)
*William V, Marquess of Montferrat (1191)
*William V, Count of Nevers (before 11751181)
*William V, Duke of Jülich (1299–1361)
*William V, ...
.
See also
*
Dukes of Aquitaine family tree
The Duke of Aquitaine ( oc, Duc d'Aquitània, french: Duc d'Aquitaine, ) was the ruler of the medieval region of Aquitaine (not to be confused with modern-day Aquitaine) under the supremacy of Frankish, English, and later French kings.
As succe ...
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Emma of Blois
950s births
1003 deaths
Duchesses of Aquitaine
Countesses of Anjou
10th-century women rulers
11th-century women rulers
10th-century French women
10th-century French people
11th-century French women
11th-century French people
House of Blois