Ermengarde of Anjou, ( - ),She is called Ermengarde in northern

rench The Rench is a right-hand tributary of the Rhine in the Ortenau ( Central Baden, Germany). It rises on the southern edge of the Northern Black Forest at Kniebis near Bad Griesbach im Schwarzwald. The source farthest from the mouth is that of the ...

sources however at least one early southern source calls her Gerberga. Angevins were known to give daughters two names as evidenced by her aunt, called Adelaide-Blanche. See: Bachrach, 'Henry II and the Angevin Tradition', ''Albion'', Vol. 16, No. 2, (1984), p. 117 n. 35; Crisp, 'Consanguinity and the Saint-Aubin Genealogies, ''Haskins Society Journal 14'' (2005), p. 114; also: Bachrach, ""Fulk Nerra, (1993), p. 42. was the Countess of Rennes, Regent of Brittany (992–994) and also Countess of Angoulême.

Life

Ermengarde-Gerberga was born , the daughter of

Geoffrey I, Count of Anjou Geoffrey I of Anjou ( – 21 July 987), known as ("Grey Gown" or "Greymantle"), was count of Anjou from 960 to 987. Life Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk II, Count of Anjou and his first wife Gerberga. He succeeded his father as Count of Anj ...

and

Adele of Meaux Adela of Vermandois ( – c. 982) was a French noblewoman. She was Countess of Chalon and later Countess of Anjou. Adela was a daughter of Robert of Vermandois, Count of Meaux and Troyes, and Adelaide de Burgundy. Adele died in 982. Family Sh ...

. She married

Conan I of Rennes Conan I (died 27 June 992) nicknamed ''Le Tort'' (The Crooked) was the Duke of Brittany from 990 to his death. Life Count to Duke Conan was the son of Judicael Berengar, succeeding his father as Count of Rennes in 970. Conan assumed the title ...

, Count of Rennes, in 973.Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 75 Her husband Conan of Rennes opposed her father and brother Fulk even though the marriage was apparently designed to form a political alliance between Anjou and Brittany. Bernard S. Bachrach, Henry II and the Angevin Tradition of Family Hostility, ''Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies'', Vol. 16, No. 2, (Summer, 1984), p. 117 Even after Conan had been killed by Fulk at the

Battle of Conquereuil The Battle of Conquereuil was fought on June 27, 992 AD between the Bretons under Conan I, Duke of Brittany and the Angevins under Fulk the Black. Siege of Nantes Duke Conan had the Breton city of Nantes under siege, when he learned that Fulk w ...

in 992, and during the period 992-994 when Ermengarde was Regent for their son Geoffrey, she remained loyal to her brother

Fulk III, Count of Anjou Fulk III, the Black ( 987–1040; fro, Foulque Nerra), was an early count of Anjou celebrated as one of the first great builders of medieval castles. It is estimated Fulk constructed approximately 100 castles, along with abbeys throughout the Lo ...

. In 992, following the interests of her brother, and functioning as Regent, she accepted Capetian over-lordship for Rennes while rejecting that of Odo I, Count of Blois. About 1000Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 4 (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany. 1989), Tafel 817 her brother Fulk III arranged his widowed sister to marry, secondly, William II of Angoulême, one of his close allies.Archibald R. Lewis, ''The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718-1050'' (University of Texas Press, 1965, p. 337) Online copy viewable here.
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Issue

Ermengarde married Conan I 'le Tort' Count of Rennes, she had the following children: * Judith (982–1017), married Richard II, Duke of Normandy. *

Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany Geoffrey I (c. 980 – 20 November 1008), also known as Geoffrey of Rennes and Geoffrey Berengar, was the eldest son of Duke Conan I of Brittany. He was Count of Rennes (ruler of the Romano-Frankish ''civitas'' of Rennes), by right of successio ...

, the eventual heir to Conan I. *Judicael, count of

Porhoët The noble Breton family line of Porhoët () is represented in modern times by the Franco-Breton House of Rohan. History The first recognised Vicomte de Porhoët was Guithenoc (abt. 990-1040CE), was born in Guilliers. He married Allurum (994 ...

(died 1037). *Hernod. William II 'Taillefer' Count of Angoulême, married her sister Gerberga and had the following children: * Alduin, Count of Angoulême (d. 1032), married Alaisia de Gasçogne. * Geoffrey, Count of Angoulême (d.1048), married 1st Petronille d'Archiac, 2nd Anceline. * Fulk of Angoulême, married Aynors. * Odon (flourished c. 1030). * Arnauld (died young). * William (died young).

Notes

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou Duchesses of Brittany House of Ingelger 10th-century Breton people 10th-century French women 11th-century Breton people 11th-century French women 10th-century women rulers 950s births 1020s deaths Year of birth uncertain Year of death uncertain