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{{Short description|Frankish noblewoman (945–1026)}}
{{ infobox royalty
{{infobox royalty
| name = Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou
| image = DELPECH Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou, Queen of Western Francia (cropped).jpg
| caption = 19th-century imaginary portrait
| house = [[House of Ingelger|Ingelger]]
| house = [[House of Ingelger|Ingelger]]
| father = [[Fulk II, Count of Anjou]]
| father = [[Fulk II, Count of Anjou]]
| mother = Gerberge
| mother = Gerberge
| spouse = {{Plainlist|
| spouses = {{Plainlist|
* [[Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan]]<br>(m. 955; died 970)
* [[Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan]]<br>(m. 955; died 970)
* [[Raymond III, Count of Toulouse]]<br>(m. 975; died 978)
* [[Raymond III, Count of Toulouse]]<br>(m. 975; died 978)
* [[Louis V, King of France]]<br>(m. 982; div. 984)
* [[Louis V, King of France]]<br>(m. 982; ann. 984)
* [[William I, Count of Provence]]<br>(m. 984; died 993)
* [[William I, Count of Provence]]<br>(m. 984; died 993)
* (? [[Otto-William, Count of Burgundy]])
* (? [[Otto-William, Count of Burgundy]])
}}
}}
| birth_date = {{circa|940}}
| birth_date = {{circa|940}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place = [[West Francia]]
| death_date = 1026
| death_date = 1026
| death_place = [[Avignon]]
| death_place = [[Avignon]]
| burial_date =
| burial_date =
| burial_place = [[Montmajour Abbey]]
| burial_place = [[Montmajour Abbey]]
| religion = [[Roman Catholicism]]
}}
}}


'''Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou'''<ref group=lower-alpha>The majority of historians refer to her as Adelaide, for example see Stasser (1997). [[Bernard Bachrach]] refers to her as Adelaide-Blanche throughout his book ''Fulk Nerra'' (1993), and in his article 'Henry II and the Angevin Tradition', Albion, 16, 2, (1984), p. 117 n. 35 in writing of [[Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou]] states that Angevins were known to give daughters two names, giving her aunt Adelaide-Blanche (the subject of this article) as an example, without explaining that his novel theory has no contemporary documentation. Constance Bouchard, in ''Those of My Blood'' (2001) consistently refers to her as Adelaide-Blanche, parroting Bachrach. In [[Europäische Stammtafeln]] (citations below) she is correctly called either Adelaide or Adelaide (Blanche). At least two chronicles, the Chronicle S. Albin and the Chronicle S. Maxent. call her Blanche, See: Norgate, ''Eng. Under the Angevin Kings'', Vol. 1 (1887), p. 191. In the work ''[[Rodulfus Glaber|Rodulfi Glabri]] Historiarum libri quinque'', Ed. & Trans. John France (2002), on pp. 16–17 n. 5 she is referred to as "Adelaide, also called Blanche" while on pp. 106–7 n. 5 she is called "Adelaide-Blanche." Also see the reference to the letter by pope Benedict VIII addressing her as Countess Adelaide, "cognomento Blanche" in the note below. The name Adelaide-Blanche has clearly become the preferred version of her name among a subset of modern historians. Nevertheless Adelaide-Blanche was not her contemporary name; her given name was Adelaide and the "pet" name/nickname used by her closest family and friends was Blanche. At the height of her political power, she is explicitly named as the still living 'Adelaix' in a 992 charter of her son William III and his wife Emma.</ref> ({{circa| 940}} &ndash;1026) was, by her successive marriages, countess of [[Gévaudan]] and [[Forez]], of [[County of Toulouse|Toulouse]], of [[County of Provence|Provence]], and of [[Free County of Burgundy|Burgundy]], and queen of [[Kingdom of Aquitaine|Aquitaine]]. She was the regent of Gevaudan during the minority of her sons in the 960s, and the regent of Provence during the minority of her stepson from 994 until 999.
'''Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou'''{{efn|The majority of historians refer to her as Adelaide, for example see Stasser (1997). [[Bernard Bachrach]] refers to her as Adelaide-Blanche throughout his book ''Fulk Nerra'' (1993), and in his article 'Henry II and the Angevin Tradition', Albion, 16, 2, (1984), p. 117 n. 35 in writing of [[Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou]] states that Angevins were known to give daughters two names, giving her aunt Adelaide-Blanche (the subject of this article) as an example, without explaining that his novel theory has no contemporary documentation. Constance Bouchard, in ''Those of My Blood'' (2001) consistently refers to her as Adelaide-Blanche, parroting Bachrach. At least two chronicles, the Chronicle S. Albin and the Chronicle S. Maxent. call her Blanche, See: Norgate, ''Eng. Under the Angevin Kings'', Vol. 1 (1887), p. 191. In the work ''[[Rodulfus Glaber|Rodulfi Glabri]] Historiarum libri quinque'', Ed. & Trans. John France (2002), on pp. 16–17 n. 5 she is referred to as "Adelaide, also called Blanche" while on pp. 106–7 n. 5 she is called "Adelaide-Blanche." Also see the reference to the letter by pope Benedict VIII addressing her as Countess Adelaide, "cognomento Blanche" in the note below. The name Adelaide-Blanche has clearly become the preferred version of her name among a subset of modern historians. Nevertheless Adelaide-Blanche was not her contemporary name; her given name was Adelaide and the "pet" name/nickname used by her closest family and friends was Blanche. At the height of her political power, she is explicitly named as the still living 'Adelaix' in a 992 charter of her son William III and his wife Emma.}}({{circa| 940}} &ndash;1010 or 1026{{sfn|Settipani|1993|p=335}}) was, by her successive marriages, countess of [[Gévaudan]] and [[Forez]], of [[County of Toulouse|Toulouse]], of [[County of Provence|Provence]], and of [[Free County of Burgundy|Burgundy]], and queen of [[Kingdom of Aquitaine|Aquitaine]]. She was the regent of Gevaudan during the minority of her sons in the 960s, and the regent of Provence during the minority of her son from 994 until 999.


==Life==
==Life==
She was the daughter of [[Fulk II, Count of Anjou]], and Gerberga, and sister of [[Geoffrey I of Anjou|Geoffrey Greymantle]].<ref name="ESIII/4-116">Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 1 (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 116</ref> She successfully increased Angevin fortunes, being married a total of five times.<ref name="CBB23">Constance Brittain Bouchard, ''Those of My Blood: Constructing Noble Families in Medieval Francia'' (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 2001), p. 23</ref> Her family had become upwardly mobile to the point that, as a member of just the third generation from [[Ingelger]], Adelaide-Blanche had married into the highest ranks of the older nobility of western [[Francia]].<ref name="CBB23"/>
She was the daughter of Count [[Fulk II of Anjou]] and Gerberga, and sister of [[Geoffrey I of Anjou|Geoffrey Greymantle]].{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=19, 23}} She successfully increased Angevin fortunes, being married a total of five times.{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=23}} Her family had become upwardly mobile to the point that, as a member of just the third generation from [[Ingelger]], Adelaide-Blanche had married into the highest ranks of the older nobility of western [[Francia]].{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=23}}


Her first marriage was to [[Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan|Stephen]], the powerful Count of [[Gévaudan]]<ref name="ESII-1">Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 1</ref> and [[Forez]] in eastern [[Aquitaine]].<ref Name="BSB296">Bernard S. Bachrach, 'The Idea of the Angevin Empire', ''Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies'', Vol. 10, No. 4 (Winter,1978), p. 296</ref> She was no more than fifteen at the time<ref>Bernard S. Bachrach, ''Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul'', 987-1040 (University of California Press, 1993), p. 9</ref> and he was much older. Still, they had three children who survived to adulthood.<ref Name="BSB296"/> Stephen died in the early 960s<ref Name="BSB296"/> and after his death she ruled the lands as regent for her sons William, Pons and Bertrand.<ref name="MDD9">Jerome Kroll, Bernard S. Bachrach, Medieval Dynastic Decisions: Evolutionary Biology and Historical Explanation, ''The Journal of Interdisciplinary History,'', Vol. 21, No. 1 (Summer, 1990), p. 9</ref> She continued to govern Gevaudan and Forez while her remaining two sons learned to rule their father's counties.<ref name="MDD9"/> Additionally, after her oldest son William's death in 975 she raised his infant son Stephen.<ref name="MDD9"/> Her brother Guy (a.k.a. Guido II) was made Count-[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay|Bishop of le Puy]] in 975 amidst local opposition and at his request Adelaide, acting for her sons Guy and Bertrand, led an army to aid him in establishing the [[Peace and Truce of God|"Peace of God"]] in le Puy.<ref name="MDD9"/>
Her first marriage was to [[Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan|Stephen]], the powerful count of [[Gévaudan]] and [[Forez]] in eastern [[Aquitaine]].{{sfn|Bachrach|1978|p=296}} She was no more than fifteen at the time{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=9}} and he was much older. Still, they had three children who survived to adulthood.{{sfn|Bachrach|1978|p=296}} Stephen died in 970{{sfn|Bachrach|1978|p=296}} and after his death she ruled the lands as regent for her sons William, Pons and Bertrand.{{sfn|Kroll|Bachrach|1990|p=9}} She continued to govern Gevaudan and Forez while her remaining two sons learned to rule their father's counties.{{sfn|Kroll|Bachrach|1990|p=9}} Additionally, after her oldest son William's death in 975 she raised his infant son Stephen.{{sfn|Kroll|Bachrach|1990|p=9}} Her brother Guy was made count-[[bishop of Le Puy]] in 975 amidst local opposition and at his request Adelaide, acting for her sons Guy and Bertrand, led an army to aid him in establishing the "[[Peace of God]]" in le Puy.{{sfn|Kroll|Bachrach|1990|p=9}}


In 982, as the widow of her second husband, [[Raymond III, Count of Toulouse|Raymond, count of Toulouse]], she wed [[Louis V of France|Louis]], son of [[Lothair of France|King Lothair of France]].<ref name="BSB15">Bernard S. Bachrach, ''Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040'' (University of California Press, 1993), p. 15</ref> The two were crowned King and Queen of Aquitaine at Brioude by her brother Bishop Guy of le Puy.<ref name="BSB15"/> The marriage lasted just over a year due to the couple being unable to peacefully live together.<ref name="BSB15"/> There was also a significant age difference—he being fifteen and Adelaide-Blanche being over forty.<ref name="BSB15"/> Adelaide found herself in a precarious situation with King Lothair but was rescued by Count [[William I of Provence]]<ref group=lower-alpha>Rodulfus Glaber had a somewhat different version. That Lothar's son Louis was wed to a woman from Aquitaine (Adelaide also called Blanche), and she wanting a separation and being a clever woman lured her young husband to Aquitaine where she deserted him and returned to her own family; that it was Louis who was rescued by his father king Lothar. See: ''Rodulfi Glabri Historiarum libri quinque'', Ed. & Trans. John France (2002), on pp. 16–17 & n. 5.</ref><ref>Bernard S. Bachrach, ''Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul'', 987-1040 (University of California Press, 1993), p. 51</ref> whom she subsequently married in {{circa|984}}.<ref>Kate Norgate, ''England under the Angevin Kings'', Volume 1 (Macmillan & Co., London & New York, 1887), p. 191</ref> Count William of Provence died in 994 shortly after becoming a [[Monk#Western Christianity|monk]] at [[Avignon]].<ref name="ESII-187"/>
In 982, as the widow of her second husband, Count [[Raymond III of Toulouse]], she wed [[Louis V of France|Louis]], son of King [[Lothair of France]].{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=15}} The two were crowned king and queen of Aquitaine at Brioude by her brother Guy.{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=15}} The marriage lasted just over a year due to the couple being unable to peacefully live together.{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=15}} There was also a significant age difference—he being fifteen and Adelaide-Blanche being over forty.{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=15}} Adelaide found herself in a precarious situation with King Lothair, but was rescued by Count [[William I of Provence]],{{efn|Rodulfus Glaber had a somewhat different version. That Lothar's son Louis was wed to a woman from Aquitaine (Adelaide also called Blanche), and she wanting a separation and being a clever woman lured her young husband to Aquitaine where she deserted him and returned to her own family; that it was Louis who was rescued by his father king Lothar. See: ''Rodulfi Glabri Historiarum libri quinque'', Ed. & Trans. John France (2002), on pp. 16–17 & n. 5.{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=51}}}} whom she subsequently married {{circa|984}}.{{sfn|Bouchard|1999|p=344}} Count William died in 994 shortly after becoming a [[Monk#Western Christianity|monk]] at [[Avignon]].


In 1010 king [[Robert II of France]] along with [[Odo II, Count of Blois]] went to Rome to secure an [[annulment]] from Robert's second wife, [[Constance of Arles]], Adelaide-Blanche's daughter by William I. [[Pope Sergius IV]], a friend to the Angevin counts, upheld the marriage and additionally upheld Adelaide's struggle to maintain control of lands at [[Montmajour Abbey]].<ref>Bernard S. Bachrach, ''Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul'', 987-1040 (University of California Press, 1993), p. 115</ref> These lands, at Perth, had been donated by Count William I of Provence with his wife Adelaide-Blanche, as well as by a previous donation by William's father, Boson.<ref name="FMC33-4">F de Marin de Carranrais, ''L'Abbaye de Montmajour. E'tude historique, etc. (Marseille,, 1877), pp. 33–4</ref> A dispute over these lands arose by four brothers, sons of Nevolongus, who pope Sergius threatened with [[excommunication]] if they did not withdraw their claim.<ref name="FMC33-4"/> The claim was withdrawn and the lands remained under the control of Adelaide-Blanche acting as regent for her son [[William II of Provence]].<ref name="FMC33-4"/>
In 1010 King [[Robert II of France]], along with Count [[Odo II of Blois]], went to Rome to secure an [[annulment]] from Robert's second wife, [[Constance of Arles]], Adelaide-Blanche's daughter by William I. [[Pope Sergius IV]], a friend to the Angevin counts, upheld the marriage and additionally upheld Adelaide's struggle to maintain control of lands at [[Montmajour Abbey]].{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=115}} These lands at Perth had been donated by Count William I of Provence with his wife Adelaide-Blanche, as well as by a previous donation by William's father, Boson.<ref name="FMC33-4">F de Marin de Carranrais, ''L'Abbaye de Montmajour. E'tude historique, etc. (Marseille,, 1877), pp. 33–4</ref> A dispute over these lands arose by four brothers, sons of Nevolongus, who Pope Sergius threatened with [[excommunication]] if they did not withdraw their claim.<ref name="FMC33-4"/> The claim was withdrawn and the lands remained under the control of Adelaide-Blanche acting as regent for her son [[William II of Provence]].<ref name="FMC33-4"/>


[[File:Montmajour-Cloître2.jpg|thumb|right|235px|<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">The cloister of [[Montmajour Abbey]] her final resting place.</div> ]]
[[File:Montmajour-Cloître2.jpg|thumb|right|235px|<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">The cloister of [[Montmajour Abbey]] her final resting place.</div> ]]
It has been suggested that she married a fifth time, to [[Otto-William, Count of Burgundy]], whose second wife was named Adelaide.<ref>Constance B. Bouchard, ''Those of My Blood'' (2001), pp. 24–5; Constance B. Bouchard, "The Origins of the French Nobility: A Reassessment", The American Historical Review, Vol. 86, No. 3 (Jun., 1981), p. 516 n. 42; Bouchard, ''Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198'', (1987), p. 270.</ref><ref name="ESII-59">Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 59</ref> However, it is disputed whether his wife Adelaide was the same as Adelaide-Blanche.<ref>Thierry Stasser, "Adélaïde d'Anjou, sa famille, ses unions, sa descendance - Etat de las question", ''Le Moyen Age'' 103 (1997): 9-52</ref><ref>Christian Settipani, ''La Noblesse du Midi Carolingien'' (Prosopographia et Genealogica 5, 2004), p. 313, note 2</ref>
It has been suggested that she married a fifth time, to Count [[Otto-William of Burgundy]], whose second wife was named Adelaide.{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=24-25}} However, it is disputed whether his wife Adelaide was the same as Adelaide-Blanche.{{sfn|Settipani|2004|p=313}}


Adelaide-Blanche died in 1026, aged approximately eighty-six.<ref name="ESII-1"/> The location of her death was probably at Avignon, since the year of her death is recorded by Arnoux, a monk of the abbey of Saint-André, near Avignon. She was buried in Montmajour Abbey, near [[Arles]], considered at the time as the burial place of the family of counts of Provence.
Adelaide-Blanche died in 1026, aged approximately eighty-six.{{sfn|Gras|Legaré|2021|p=22}} The location of her death was probably at Avignon, since the year of her death is recorded by Arnoux, a monk of the abbey of Saint-André, near Avignon. She was buried in Montmajour Abbey, near [[Arles]], considered at the time as the burial place of the family of counts of Provence.


==Marriages and children==
==Marriages and children==
* She married first, {{circa| 955}}, [[Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan]] (d. 970).<ref>Bernard S. Bachrach, ''Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040'' (University of California Press, 1993), pp. 8,9</ref><ref name="5BH107n">Rodulfus Glaber, ''The Five Books of the Histories'', ed. & trans. John France (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1989), p. 107 n. 5</ref> Children of this marriage were:
Adelaide-Blanche married first, {{circa| 955}}, [[Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan]] (d. 970).{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=8-9}}{{sfn|Glaber|1989|p=107}} Children of this marriage were:
** William, ({{circa| 955}}–975).<ref name="MDD9"/>
* William ({{circa| 955}}–975){{sfn|Kroll|Bachrach|1990|p=9}}
** Pons, Count of Gévaudan and Forez. He died aft. 26 February 1011.<ref name="ESIII4-819">Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 4 (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1989), Tafel 819</ref>
* Pons, Count of Gévaudan and Forez, died after 26 February 1011.
** Bertrand, Count of Gévaudan.<ref name="ESIII4-819"/>
* Bertrand, Count of Gévaudan.
** Almodis of Gévaudan, she married Adalbert I de Charroux, Count de la Haute March.<ref name="ESIII4-819"/>
* Almodis of Gévaudan; married Adalbert I de Charroux, Count de la Haute March.
** Philippa of Gévaudan, (married [[William V of Auvergne|William d 'Auvergne]], possibly named Bertha) <ref name="ESIII4-819"/>
* Philippa of Gévaudan; married [[William V of Auvergne]]; possibly named Bertha

* Her second marriage was to [[Raymond III, Count of Toulouse|Raymond III]], [[Count of Toulouse]] and [[Prince of Gothia]],<ref name="CBB23"/> in 975. He died in 978. She had by him at least one child:
Adelaide-Blanche's second marriage was to [[Raymond III, Count of Toulouse|Raymond III]], [[Count of Toulouse]] and [[Prince of Gothia]],{{sfn|Bouchard|2001|p=23}} in 975. He died in 978. She had by him at least one child:
** [[William III, Count of Toulouse]]
* [[William III, Count of Toulouse]]{{sfn|Bouchard|1999|p=344}}
⚫
* She married, as her third husband, [[Louis V of France]]. The two were crowned [[King of Aquitaine|King and Queen of Aquitaine]], but the marriage ended in annulment.<ref name="BSB15"/><ref name="5BH107n"/>

* As her fourth husband she married, {{circa|984}}, [[William I of Provence]]<ref name="ESII-187">Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 187</ref><ref name="5BH107n"/> Together they had:
⚫
Adelaide-Blanche married, as her third husband, [[Louis V of France]]. The two were crowned [[King of Aquitaine|King and Queen of Aquitaine]], but the marriage ended in annulment.{{sfn|Bachrach|1993|p=15}}
** [[William II of Provence]]

⚫
** [[Constance of Arles]],<ref name="5BH107n"/> who later married [[Robert II of France]].<ref name="ESII-187"/>
Adelaide-Blanche's fourth husband {{circa|984}} was [[William I of Provence]].{{sfn|Glaber|1989|p=107}} Together they had:
⚫
** Ermengarde, she married Robert I, Count of Auvergne.<ref name="ESII-187"/>
* [[William II of Provence]], married Gerberge, daughter of Otto-William, Count of Burgundy{{sfn|Bouchard|2006|p=142}}
⚫
** Tota-Adelaide, she married [[Bernard I, Count of Besalú]].<ref name="ESII-187"/>
⚫
* [[Constance of Arles]],{{sfn|Glaber|1989|p=107}} who later married [[Robert II of France]]{{sfn|Crisp|2005|p=114}}
⚫
* Ermengarde of Arles, who married Robert I, Count of Auvergne.
⚫
* Tota-Adelaide of Arles, who married [[Bernard I, Count of Besalú]].


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}


==References==
==References==
Line 61: Line 61:


==Sources==
==Sources==
*{{cite journal |first=Bernard S. |last=Bachrach |title=The Idea of the Angevin Empire |journal=Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies |volume=10| issue = 4 (Winter) |publisher=The North American Conference on British Studies |year=1978 }}
*Thierry Stasser, "Adélaïde d'Anjou, sa famille, ses unions, sa descendance - État de la question", ''Le Moyen Age'' 103 (1997): 9-52
*{{cite book |first=Bernard S. |last=Bachrach |title=Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040 |publisher=University of California Press |year=1993 }}
*{{cite book |chapter=Burgundy and Provence, 879-1032 |first=Constance Brittain |last=Bouchard |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |volume=III: c.900 -c.1024 |editor-first1=Timothy |editor-last1=Reuter |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1999 }}
*{{cite book |first=Constance Brittain |last=Bouchard |title=Those of My Blood: Creating Noble Families in Medieval Francia |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2001 }}
*{{cite book |chapter=The kingdom of the Franks to 1108 |first=Constance Brittain |last=Bouchard |page=120-153 |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |volume=4, c.1024-c.1198, Part 2 |editor-first1=David |editor-last1=Abulafia |editor-first2=C. T. |editor-last2=Allmand |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2006 }}
*{{cite book |chapter=Consanguinity and the Saint Aubin Genealogies |first=Ryan Patrick |last=Crisp |pages=105-116 |title=The Haskins Society Journal 14: 2003. Studies in Medieval History |volume=14 |editor-first=Stephen |editor-last=Morillo |publisher=The Boydell Press |year=2005 }}
*{{cite book |first=Rodulfus |last=Glaber |title=The Five Books of the Histories |editor-first=John |editor-last=France |publisher=The Clarendon Press |year=1989 }}
*{{cite book |title=Lumières du Nord: Les manuscrits enluminés français et flamands de la Bibliotheque nationale d'Espagne |editor-first1=Samuel |editor-last1=Gras |editor-first2=Anne-Marie |editor-last2=Legaré |publisher=Presses Universitie Septentrio |year=2021 }}
*{{cite journal |first1=Jerome |last1=Kroll |first2=Bernard S. |last2=Bachrach |title=Medieval Dynastic Decisions: Evolutionary Biology and Historical Explanation |journal=The Journal of Interdisciplinary History |publisher=The MIT Press |volume=21| issue = 1 (Summer) |year=1990 }}
*{{cite book |first=Christian |last=Settipani |title=La Noblesse du Midi Carolingien |publisher=Prosopographia et Genealogica 5 |year=2004 }}
*{{cite book |first=Christian |last=Settipani |title=La Préhistoire des Capétiens |publisher=Patrick van Kerrebrouck |year=1993 }}



==External links==
==External links==
*[http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ANJOU,%20MAINE.htm#AdelaisM1M2LouisVFranksdied987M3M4 Medieval Lands Project on Adelaide of Anjou]
* Baldwin, Stewart, FASG, [http://sbaldw.home.mindspring.com/hproject/prov/adela000.htm Adélaïde/Alix alias Blanche of Anjou] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225349/http://sbaldw.home.mindspring.com/hproject/prov/adela000.htm |date=2016-03-03 }}, Henry Project
* Baldwin, Stewart, FASG, [http://sbaldw.home.mindspring.com/hproject/prov/adela000.htm Adélaïde/Alix alias Blanche of Anjou] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225349/http://sbaldw.home.mindspring.com/hproject/prov/adela000.htm |date=2016-03-03 }}, Henry Project

{{S-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Ingelger|House of Anjou]]|circa|947|29 May|1026}}
{{S-bef|before=Anne}}
{{S-ttl|title=Countess of [[Gévaudan]]|years=bef. 960–975}}
{{S-aft|after=Theutberg}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=Gundinildis}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Toulousain consorts|Countess of Toulouse]]|years=975–978}}
{{S-aft|after=Arsende}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Emma of Italy]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Aquitainian consorts|Queen of Aquitaine]],<br />junior [[List of Frankish queens|Queen of the West Franks]]|years=982–984|alongside=[[Emma of Italy]]}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Emma of Italy]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=Arsenda}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Provençal consorts|Countess and Margravine of Provence]]|alongside=Emilde of Gévaudan|years=984–993}}
{{S-aft|after=Gerberga of Mâcon}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-bef|before=Ermentrude de Roucy}}
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Latest revision as of 01:31, 31 December 2024

Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou
Bornc. 940
West Francia
Died1026
Avignon
Burial
Montmajour Abbey
Spouses
HouseIngelger
FatherFulk II, Count of Anjou
MotherGerberge

Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou[a](c. 940 –1010 or 1026[1]) was, by her successive marriages, countess of Gévaudan and Forez, of Toulouse, of Provence, and of Burgundy, and queen of Aquitaine. She was the regent of Gevaudan during the minority of her sons in the 960s, and the regent of Provence during the minority of her son from 994 until 999.

Life

[edit]

She was the daughter of Count Fulk II of Anjou and Gerberga, and sister of Geoffrey Greymantle.[2] She successfully increased Angevin fortunes, being married a total of five times.[3] Her family had become upwardly mobile to the point that, as a member of just the third generation from Ingelger, Adelaide-Blanche had married into the highest ranks of the older nobility of western Francia.[3]

Her first marriage was to Stephen, the powerful count of Gévaudan and Forez in eastern Aquitaine.[4] She was no more than fifteen at the time[5] and he was much older. Still, they had three children who survived to adulthood.[4] Stephen died in 970[4] and after his death she ruled the lands as regent for her sons William, Pons and Bertrand.[6] She continued to govern Gevaudan and Forez while her remaining two sons learned to rule their father's counties.[6] Additionally, after her oldest son William's death in 975 she raised his infant son Stephen.[6] Her brother Guy was made count-bishop of Le Puy in 975 amidst local opposition and at his request Adelaide, acting for her sons Guy and Bertrand, led an army to aid him in establishing the "Peace of God" in le Puy.[6]

In 982, as the widow of her second husband, Count Raymond III of Toulouse, she wed Louis, son of King Lothair of France.[7] The two were crowned king and queen of Aquitaine at Brioude by her brother Guy.[7] The marriage lasted just over a year due to the couple being unable to peacefully live together.[7] There was also a significant age difference—he being fifteen and Adelaide-Blanche being over forty.[7] Adelaide found herself in a precarious situation with King Lothair, but was rescued by Count William I of Provence,[b] whom she subsequently married c. 984.[9] Count William died in 994 shortly after becoming a monk at Avignon.

In 1010 King Robert II of France, along with Count Odo II of Blois, went to Rome to secure an annulment from Robert's second wife, Constance of Arles, Adelaide-Blanche's daughter by William I. Pope Sergius IV, a friend to the Angevin counts, upheld the marriage and additionally upheld Adelaide's struggle to maintain control of lands at Montmajour Abbey.[10] These lands at Perth had been donated by Count William I of Provence with his wife Adelaide-Blanche, as well as by a previous donation by William's father, Boson.[11] A dispute over these lands arose by four brothers, sons of Nevolongus, who Pope Sergius threatened with excommunication if they did not withdraw their claim.[11] The claim was withdrawn and the lands remained under the control of Adelaide-Blanche acting as regent for her son William II of Provence.[11]

The cloister of Montmajour Abbey her final resting place.

It has been suggested that she married a fifth time, to Count Otto-William of Burgundy, whose second wife was named Adelaide.[12] However, it is disputed whether his wife Adelaide was the same as Adelaide-Blanche.[13]

Adelaide-Blanche died in 1026, aged approximately eighty-six.[14] The location of her death was probably at Avignon, since the year of her death is recorded by Arnoux, a monk of the abbey of Saint-André, near Avignon. She was buried in Montmajour Abbey, near Arles, considered at the time as the burial place of the family of counts of Provence.

Marriages and children

[edit]

Adelaide-Blanche married first, c. 955, Stephen, Viscount of Gévaudan (d. 970).[15][16] Children of this marriage were:

  • William (c. 955–975)[6]
  • Pons, Count of Gévaudan and Forez, died after 26 February 1011.
  • Bertrand, Count of Gévaudan.
  • Almodis of Gévaudan; married Adalbert I de Charroux, Count de la Haute March.
  • Philippa of Gévaudan; married William V of Auvergne; possibly named Bertha

Adelaide-Blanche's second marriage was to Raymond III, Count of Toulouse and Prince of Gothia,[3] in 975. He died in 978. She had by him at least one child:

Adelaide-Blanche married, as her third husband, Louis V of France. The two were crowned King and Queen of Aquitaine, but the marriage ended in annulment.[7]

Adelaide-Blanche's fourth husband c. 984 was William I of Provence.[16] Together they had:

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The majority of historians refer to her as Adelaide, for example see Stasser (1997). Bernard Bachrach refers to her as Adelaide-Blanche throughout his book Fulk Nerra (1993), and in his article 'Henry II and the Angevin Tradition', Albion, 16, 2, (1984), p. 117 n. 35 in writing of Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou states that Angevins were known to give daughters two names, giving her aunt Adelaide-Blanche (the subject of this article) as an example, without explaining that his novel theory has no contemporary documentation. Constance Bouchard, in Those of My Blood (2001) consistently refers to her as Adelaide-Blanche, parroting Bachrach. At least two chronicles, the Chronicle S. Albin and the Chronicle S. Maxent. call her Blanche, See: Norgate, Eng. Under the Angevin Kings, Vol. 1 (1887), p. 191. In the work Rodulfi Glabri Historiarum libri quinque, Ed. & Trans. John France (2002), on pp. 16–17 n. 5 she is referred to as "Adelaide, also called Blanche" while on pp. 106–7 n. 5 she is called "Adelaide-Blanche." Also see the reference to the letter by pope Benedict VIII addressing her as Countess Adelaide, "cognomento Blanche" in the note below. The name Adelaide-Blanche has clearly become the preferred version of her name among a subset of modern historians. Nevertheless Adelaide-Blanche was not her contemporary name; her given name was Adelaide and the "pet" name/nickname used by her closest family and friends was Blanche. At the height of her political power, she is explicitly named as the still living 'Adelaix' in a 992 charter of her son William III and his wife Emma.
  2. ^ Rodulfus Glaber had a somewhat different version. That Lothar's son Louis was wed to a woman from Aquitaine (Adelaide also called Blanche), and she wanting a separation and being a clever woman lured her young husband to Aquitaine where she deserted him and returned to her own family; that it was Louis who was rescued by his father king Lothar. See: Rodulfi Glabri Historiarum libri quinque, Ed. & Trans. John France (2002), on pp. 16–17 & n. 5.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Settipani 1993, p. 335.
  2. ^ Bouchard 2001, p. 19, 23.
  3. ^ a b c Bouchard 2001, p. 23.
  4. ^ a b c Bachrach 1978, p. 296.
  5. ^ Bachrach 1993, p. 9.
  6. ^ a b c d e Kroll & Bachrach 1990, p. 9.
  7. ^ a b c d e Bachrach 1993, p. 15.
  8. ^ Bachrach 1993, p. 51.
  9. ^ a b Bouchard 1999, p. 344.
  10. ^ Bachrach 1993, p. 115.
  11. ^ a b c F de Marin de Carranrais, L'Abbaye de Montmajour. E'tude historique, etc. (Marseille,, 1877), pp. 33–4
  12. ^ Bouchard 2001, p. 24-25.
  13. ^ Settipani 2004, p. 313.
  14. ^ Gras & Legaré 2021, p. 22.
  15. ^ Bachrach 1993, p. 8-9.
  16. ^ a b c Glaber 1989, p. 107.
  17. ^ Bouchard 2006, p. 142.
  18. ^ Crisp 2005, p. 114.

Sources

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  • Bachrach, Bernard S. (1978). "The Idea of the Angevin Empire". Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies. 10 (4 (Winter)). The North American Conference on British Studies.
  • Bachrach, Bernard S. (1993). Fulk Nerra the Neo-Roman Consul, 987-1040. University of California Press.
  • Bouchard, Constance Brittain (1999). "Burgundy and Provence, 879-1032". In Reuter, Timothy (ed.). The New Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. III: c.900 -c.1024. Cambridge University Press.
  • Bouchard, Constance Brittain (2001). Those of My Blood: Creating Noble Families in Medieval Francia. University of Pennsylvania Press.
  • Bouchard, Constance Brittain (2006). "The kingdom of the Franks to 1108". In Abulafia, David; Allmand, C. T. (eds.). The New Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. 4, c.1024 – c.1198, Part 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 120-153.
  • Crisp, Ryan Patrick (2005). "Consanguinity and the Saint Aubin Genealogies". In Morillo, Stephen (ed.). The Haskins Society Journal 14: 2003. Studies in Medieval History. Vol. 14. The Boydell Press. pp. 105–116.
  • Glaber, Rodulfus (1989). France, John (ed.). The Five Books of the Histories. The Clarendon Press.
  • Gras, Samuel; Legaré, Anne-Marie, eds. (2021). Lumières du Nord: Les manuscrits enluminés français et flamands de la Bibliotheque nationale d'Espagne. Presses Universitie Septentrio.
  • Kroll, Jerome; Bachrach, Bernard S. (1990). "Medieval Dynastic Decisions: Evolutionary Biology and Historical Explanation". The Journal of Interdisciplinary History. 21 (1 (Summer)). The MIT Press.
  • Settipani, Christian (2004). La Noblesse du Midi Carolingien. Prosopographia et Genealogica 5.
  • Settipani, Christian (1993). La Préhistoire des Capétiens. Patrick van Kerrebrouck.


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