Adela of France facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adela of France
Countess of Flanders
Baldwin V of Flanders and Adela of France
Born	1009
Died	8 January 1079(1079-01-08) (aged 69) Messines
Burial	Benedictine Convent of Messines
Spouse	Richard III, Duke of Normandy Baldwin V, Count of Flanders
Issue	Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders Matilda, Queen of England Robert I, Count of Flanders
House	Capet
Father	Robert II, King of France
Mother	Constance of Arles

Adela of France, also called Adela the Holy, was a powerful noblewoman who lived a long time ago. She was born in 1009 and passed away on January 8, 1079, in a place called Messines. Through her marriages, she became the Duchess of Normandy for a short time and then the Countess of Flanders for many years.

Who Was Adela of France?

Adela was a princess, the second daughter of King Robert II of France and Queen Constance of Arles. Her family was very important in France.

Adela's Marriages and Family Life

Adela first married Richard III, Duke of Normandy. This marriage was very short, lasting only from January to August 1027. After Richard's death, Adela married Baldwin V, Count of Flanders in 1028. They had three children:

• Baldwin VI, Count of Flanders (born around 1030)
• Matilda of Flanders (born around 1032), who later married William the Conqueror, who became King of England.
• Robert I, Count of Flanders (born around 1035)

A Powerful Countess

As Countess of Flanders, Adela was more than just a wife. She was very proud of her royal background. She had a special education, learning to read and speak Latin from monks. This was unusual for women at that time. She even taught Latin to her own children.

Adela was an active partner in her husband's rule. She often signed important documents with him. She was known as "Sister to the King of France" on these papers. This showed her high status and influence.

Adela's Role in Church Reforms

Adela was very interested in making the church better. She helped her husband set up several churches and religious communities. For example, she helped create colleges in Aire (1049), Lille (1050), and Harelbeke (1064). She also helped establish abbeys, which are like monasteries, in Messines (1057) and Ename (1063).

Regent of France

Adela's brother, King Henry I of France, passed away in 1060. His son, Philip I of France, was only seven years old. Because of this, Adela's husband, Baldwin V, and Henry's widow, Anne of Kiev, became the regents of France. This meant they ruled France until Philip was old enough. Adela and Baldwin were regents from 1060 to 1067.

Life in the Monastery

After her husband Baldwin V died in 1067, Adela decided to live a religious life. She traveled to Rome and became a nun. She then moved to the Benedictine convent in Messines, near Ypres.

In 1071, a difficult situation arose. Adela's third son, Robert the Frisian, wanted to take control of Flanders. At that time, Adela's grandson, Arnulf III, Count of Flanders, was the count. Adela asked her nephew, King Philip I of France, to help stop Robert. Philip sent soldiers to support Arnulf. However, Robert's army attacked quickly. Arnulf was killed in the battle. Robert won and became the new Count of Flanders.

Adela passed away in the convent of Messines in 1079. She was buried there. Today, she is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Her special day is September 8.

See Also

• List of countesses of Flanders by marriage