Ermengarde of Anjou (d. 1146)
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Ermengarde of Anjou ( – 1 June 1146), also known as Ermengarde of Brittany, was a member of the comital
House of Anjou Angevin or House of Anjou may refer to: * County of Anjou or Duchy of Anjou, a historical county, and later Duchy, in France ** Angevin (language), the traditional langue d'oïl spoken in Anjou ** Counts and Dukes of Anjou *House of Ingelger, a Fra ...
and by her two marriages was successively Duchess of Aquitaine and
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...
. She was also a
patron Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
of
Fontevraud Abbey The Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud or Fontevrault (in French: ''abbaye de Fontevraud'') was a monastery in the village of Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, near Chinon, in the former French duchy of Anjou. It was founded in 1101 by the itinerant preache ...
. Ermengarde was the regent of Brittany during the absence of her spouse, Duke Alan IV of Brittany, from 1096 until 1101.


Life


Early years

Born in
Angers Angers (, , ) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Anjou until the French Revolution. The inhabitants of both the city and the prov ...
she was the eldest child of Count
Fulk IV of Anjou Fulk is an old European personal name, probably deriving from the Germanic '' folk'' ("people" or "chieftain"). It is cognate with the French Foulques, the German Volk, the Italian Fulco and the Swedish Folke, along with other variants such as Fulk ...
and Hildegarde of Beaugency. Having lost her mother in 1070, at only two years of age, she received an education, possibly at the abbey of Ronceray, and grew to be pious and concerned about religious reform, especially the struggle against the secular appropriation of church property. In her youth, Ermengarde was noted for her intelligence and beauty in a poem by Marbode of Rennes in which he offers also offers her spiritual guidance and advice.


Possible Duchess of Aquitaine

It has been recorded that Ermengard was the wife of
William IX of Aquitaine William IX ( oc, Guilhèm de Peitieus; ''Guilhem de Poitou'' french: Guillaume de Poitiers) (22 October 1071 – 10 February 1126), called the Troubadour, was the Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou (as William VII) between 1086 and ...
. It has long been presumed that, in 1089, her marriage was arranged to the young Duke and poet,
William IX of Aquitaine William IX ( oc, Guilhèm de Peitieus; ''Guilhem de Poitou'' french: Guillaume de Poitiers) (22 October 1071 – 10 February 1126), called the Troubadour, was the Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitou (as William VII) between 1086 and ...
. However, this union proved a dismal failure. Her husband was a voracious philanderer, whose affairs infuriated his wife. She had severe mood swings, vacillating between vivacity and sullenness, and would nag her husband. She also had a habit of retiring in bad temper to a cloister after an argument, cutting off all contact with the outside world, before suddenly making a reappearance in the court as if her absence had never occurred. Such behavior, coupled with her failure to conceive a child, led William to send her back to her father and have the marriage dissolved in 1091. Her behavior during her marriage to the Duke has been described by both
Marion Meade Marion may refer to: People *Marion (given name) * Marion (surname) * Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion" * Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992) Places Antarctica * M ...
and
Alison Weir Alison Weir ( Matthews; born 1951) is a British author and public historian. She primarily writes about the history of English royal women and families, in the form of biographies that explore their historical setting. She has also written nu ...
as "
schizophrenic Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social withdra ...
", with Weir adding a suggestion of "
manic depression Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...
". However, Ruth Harvey's 1993 critical investigation shows the assumption of William's marriage to Ermengarde to be based largely on an error in a nineteenth-century secondary source and it is highly likely that Philippa of Toulouse was William's only wife. Further research has found the claim that William was married to "Hermingerda", daughter of Fulk IV of Anjou is based on the very unreliable chronicle of William of Tyre, written between 1169 and 1187, more than 70 years after the events in question would have taken place. Tyre erroneously identifies Ermengarde's mother as Bertrand of Montfort, the sister of Amalricus de Montfort when her mother was in fact Audearde or Hildegarde of Beaugency. Tyre's chronicle lacks any contemporary corroboration, no primary text ever mentions a marriage between William and Ermengarde. It is therefore not only improbable that William married Ermengarde of Anjou, it is likely that he was never married to a woman named Ermengarde at all. But Stephen Philp, poet and mediaeval historian, has counter-argued that Tyre's apparent error in the names is not in itself proof a marriage between William and a woman named Ermengarde never took place, especially as several sources give colorful accounts of the marriage and its aftermath.


Duchess and regent of Brittany

In 1092 or 1093, her father married her to Duke Alan IV of Brittany, probably to secure an alliance against
Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
, then controlled by
William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...
's son,
Robert Curthose Robert Curthose, or Robert II of Normandy ( 1051 – 3 February 1134, french: Robert Courteheuse / Robert II de Normandie), was the eldest son of William the Conqueror and succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy in 1087, reigning until 1106. ...
. Though her marriage was arranged for political reasons this does not mean that Ermengarde would have been seen as inferior to her husband. It was not uncommon that noble women in twelfth century France actually wielded more political power than their husbands. The union produced three children: the future Duke Conan III, Hawise and, Geoffrey. It is also suggested that during her time as duchess, Ermengarde may have raised her half-brother Fulk V alongside her own children. Ermengarde, seemingly unhappy in her marriage to Alan IV, repeatedly attempted to have her marriage annulled so that she could focus on religious rather than public life. Her requests were denied by religious authorities on the grounds that she did not have a witness to support her claim of consanguinity.
Robert of Arbrissel Robert of Arbrissel ( 1045 – 1116) was an itinerant preacher, and founder of Fontevraud Abbey. He was born at Arbrissel (near Retiers, Brittany) and died at Orsan Priory in the present department of Cher. Sources The first ''Vita'' was writt ...
, whom she kept correspondence with, told Ermengarde that it was her "duty to remain in the world, despite your desire to leave it, and to fulfill God's will concerning you." This letter from Robert of Arbrissel includes over 100 biblical references as well as references to religious leaders and Roman poets, showing that Robert knew Ermengarde to be intelligent and well read. It was not uncommon that noblewomen were better educated and more literate than noblemen during the Middle Ages as women were often expected to maintain their own properties and that of their husbands. Ermengarde was also known to receive advice from other religious leaders of the time including Geoffrey of Vendome and St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Some scholars such as Shawn Madison Krahmer have noted that the letters surviving from St. Bernard of Clairvaux to Ermengarde show a level of intimacy and fondness that would suggest a close friendship between the two rather than a simply advisory correspondence. When her husband left for
Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
in 1096 to take part in the
First Crusade The First Crusade (1096–1099) was the first of a series of religious wars, or Crusades, initiated, supported and at times directed by the Latin Church in the medieval period. The objective was the recovery of the Holy Land from Islamic ru ...
, Ermengarde served as Regent of the Duchy of Brittany from 1096 until 1101. Despite being a time of political instability in Brittany, Ermengarde proved to be a popular and effective ruler maintaining stability during the Duke's absence by utilizing her familial ties and alliances. Ermengarde remained active in ruling alongside Alan upon his return from the crusades. Ermengarde was also effective in her political role by having close ties and a level of influence over the church, becoming an important supporter of reforms. In a letter to Ermengarde Geoffrey of Vendome praised her abilities as a leader saying that she was "fighting for God rather than caught up in worldly affairs." She spent little time in
Rennes Rennes (; br, Roazhon ; Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department ...
or the west of
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...
, preferring
Nantes Nantes (, , ; Gallo: or ; ) is a city in Loire-Atlantique on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 314,138 in Nantes proper and a metropolitan area of nearly 1 million inhabita ...
and the
Saumur Saumur () is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. The town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc.. Saumur statio ...
region. Influenced by Robert of Arbrissel, she approved the expansion of the abbey at
Fontevraud Fontevraud-l'Abbaye () is a commune in the western French department of Maine-et-Loire. It is situated both in the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an interna ...
, to which she withdrew from 1103 to 1105 due to marital issues with Alan. In 1112, Ermengarde's husband, Alan, abdicated his position as Duke and entered the monastery of Redon as a monk where he remained until his death. Ermengarde continued to rule the county alongside her son, Conan III for many years.


Later life

During her marriage to Duke Alan IV of Brittany, Ermengarde repeatedly tried to become a nun, however she was continually refused due to her being married. It was not unusual that noblewomen would retire to a monastery in later life, but it was not common for these noblewomen to take up religious vows as Ermengarde tried to. By 1116 Ermengarde was living in Fontevrault Abbey, where she reputedly became a friend of her first husband's second wife,
Philippa of Toulouse Philippa () (c. 1073 – 28 November 1118) was ''suo jure'' Countess of Toulouse, as well as the Duchess of Aquitaine by marriage to Duke William IX of Aquitaine. Life Early life and marriage Philippa was born in approximately 1073 to Count ...
. In 1118 after the death of Philippa, Ermengarde decided to avenge her deceased friend. She went south from Fontevrault to the court of her former husband, Duke William of Aquitaine, where she demanded to be recognized as the rightful Duchess. William ignored this remarkable request. Accordingly, in October 1119, she suddenly appeared at the Council of Reims, being held by
Pope Calixtus II Pope Callixtus II or Callistus II ( – 13 December 1124), born Guy of Burgundy, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1 February 1119 to his death in 1124. His pontificate was shaped by the Investiture Controversy, ...
, demanding that the Pope excommunicate William, oust his mistress from the ducal palace, and restore Ermengarde to her rightful place as the Duchess of Aquitaine. The Pope "''declined to accommodate her''"; however, Ermengarde continued to trouble William for several years afterwards. In 1121, Ermengarde and her half-brother, Fulk V of Anjou, established a Cistercian monastery in Anjou at Louroux. The siblings signed a charter placing an endowment in the name of their father at the abbey of Ronceray in 1129, and donated gifts to the nuns. Following Fulk's departure for the Holy Land to become King of Jerusalem(), Ermengarde was allowed to become a Cistercian nun by St Bernard of Clairvaux at the Priory of Larrey near
Dijon Dijon (, , ) (dated) * it, Digione * la, Diviō or * lmo, Digion is the prefecture of the Côte-d'Or department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in northeastern France. the commune had a population of 156,920. The earlies ...
in 1130. She left the priory by 1132 and visited her brother, Fulk, who had just become king of Jerusalem. While visiting King Fulk in the Holy Land, Ermengarde sponsored the building of a church in
Nablus Nablus ( ; ar, نابلس, Nābulus ; he, שכם, Šəḵem, ISO 259-3: ; Samaritan Hebrew: , romanized: ; el, Νεάπολις, Νeápolis) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank, located approximately north of Jerusalem, with a populati ...
near
Jacob's Well Jacob's Well ( ar, بِئْر يَعْقُوب, Biʾr Yaʿqūb; gr, Φρέαρ του Ιακώβ, Fréar tou Iakóv; he, באר יעקב, Beʾer Yaʿaqov), also known as Jacob's fountain and Well of Sychar, is a deep well constructed into ...
. She later spent some time at the convent of Saint Anne in Jerusalem until her brother was deposed in a revolt led by Count Hugh II of Jaffa. After returning to Brittany by 1134, she and her son Conan III founded the Cistercian monastery of Benzay near
Nantes Nantes (, , ; Gallo: or ; ) is a city in Loire-Atlantique on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 314,138 in Nantes proper and a metropolitan area of nearly 1 million inhabita ...
in 1135.


Death

Ermengarde at one point went on Crusade to
Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
; she returned ten years later, and some historians believe her life ended in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
at the convent of
Saint Anne According to Christian apocryphal and Islamic tradition, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary's mother is not named in the canonical gospels. In writing, Anne's name and that of her husband Joachim come o ...
. But obituary lists at
Redon Abbey Redon Abbey, or Abbey of Saint-Sauveur, Redon ("Abbey of the Holy Saviour"; french: Abbaye Saint-Sauveur de Redon), in Redon in the present Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, France, is a former Benedictine abbey founded in 832 by Saint Conwoïon, at the p ...
record a date of death in 1146 in Redon where her second husband, Alan IV was buried. It is believed that she died a nun. The contradictions about her death and the records of her burial maybe indicated that in fact she died in Jerusalem, and that her body was subsequently transferred to Redon.


References


Sources

* *133


Further reading

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ermengarde of Anjou 1060s births 1146 deaths Year of birth uncertain Duchesses of Aquitaine Duchesses of Brittany 11th-century women rulers 12th-century women rulers 12th-century Breton people 12th-century French women 12th-century French people 11th-century French people 11th-century French women Regents of Brittany