EFL - Enciclopedia delle Famiglie Lombarde

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORTHERN%20ITALY%20900-1100.htm GERBE RGE, daughter of --- & his wife Adélaïde [de Bourgogne] ([945]-11 De c [986/991]). Her name and her two marriages are confirmed by the Chro nicle of Saint-Bénigne, interpolated into the Chronicle of Alberic d e Trois-Fontaines, which names "Guilelmum Ottonem et eius matrem Gerbe rgam" when recording that her son was adopted by his mother's second h usband "dux Burgundie Henricus" [1]. Her birth date is estimated fro m the estimated birth date of her son in [960/62]. The Vita of Hugue s Comte de Chalon refers to his (unnamed) sister as having married th e Duke of Burgundy [2]. Chronologically, this refers most probably t o Duke Henri who died in 1002, although the original of this documen t has not yet been consulted to check whether the wording supports thi s conclusion. Gerberge's origin has not yet been corroborated in th e other primary sources so far consulted. The Vita appears to indicat e that she was Gerberge, daughter of Lambert Comte de Chalon, but thi s raises several problems if it is correct. Firstly, on the death with out direct heirs in 1039 of her supposed brother Hugues Comte de Chalo n, the county was inherited by the comparatively obscure children of h is younger sister Mathilde, apparently ignoring the superior claims o f Gerberge's own numerous descendants, among whom were the powerful co unts palatine of Burgundy who, one would have thought, would not hav e missed the opportunity of acquiring another county. Rodulfus Glabe r does record that "Hugo filius Lanberti Cabilonensis comitis… episc opus Autissioderi" was an opponent of "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuign us, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" [3], which could explain wh y Bishop Hugues favoured his nephew by his younger sister to succeed t o his county. Nevertheless, after the bishop's death, his past opposit ion to Comte Otto-Guillaume may have provided an excuse for his son t o intervene in the Chalon succession if he had a legitimate claim. Sec ondly, considering the likely birth date of her son, Gerberge's firs t marriage must have taken place while her husband and father-in-law w ere still reigning kings of Italy. They were under continuous pressur e from Otto I King of Germany and it is likely that Adalberto's marria ge could have brought additional political support. It is not clear ho w the relatively obscure count of Chalon could have provided this. Thi rdly, after the death in 978 of Lambert Comte de Chalon, and his widow 's second marriage to Geoffroy I Comte d'Anjou, no record has been fou nd in the primary sources so far consulted of Henri Duke of Burgundy i ntervening to prevent Comte Geoffroy taking control of the county of C halon, which would have been the likely course of action if his wife w as the deceased count's oldest child. Fourthly, Gerberge's estimated b irth date creates serious chronological problems if she was the daught er of Lambert's only known wife Adelais. In conclusion, considerable d oubt therefore appears to subsist on this origin of Gerberge, althoug h no alternative can as yet be proposed if we are to respect the wordi ng of the Vita. She married secondly Henri Duke of Burgundy [Capet]. T he necrology of Auxerre cathedral records the death 11 Dec of "Gerberg a comitissa uxor Henrici ducis" [4]. [1] ''Chronica Albrici Monachi T rium Fontium'' 1002, MGH SS XXIII, p. 778. [2] Bouchard (1987), p. 26 7. [3] Rodulfi Glabri, ''Historiarum'' III.6, p. 107. [4] L'abbé Le beuf (1855) ''Mémoires concernant l'histoire civile et ecclésiastiqu e d'Auxerre et de son ancient diocese'' (Auxerre) (“Histoire d´Auxe rre”), Tome IV, p. 21.