Adelaide del Vasto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adelaide del Vasto |
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| Countess of Sicily Queen consort of Jerusalem |
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| Born | c. 1075 |
| Died | 16 April 1118 (aged 43) |
| Spouse | Roger I of Sicily m. 1089 w. 1101 Baldwin I of Jerusalem m. 1112 an. 1117 |
| Issue | Simon of Sicily Roger II of Sicily |
| House | Aleramici |
| Father | Manfred del Vasto |
Adelaide del Vasto (also known as Adelasia or Azalaïs) was born around 1075 and passed away on April 16, 1118. She was an important noblewoman in medieval times. First, she became the Countess of Sicily by marrying Roger I of Sicily. Later, she became the Queen of Jerusalem when she married Baldwin I of Jerusalem.
Adelaide also served as a powerful regent, which means she ruled in place of her young son, Roger II of Sicily, in Sicily. This was from 1101 until 1112. Her time as a ruler was during a period of big changes for Sicily. It was a time when the island was moving from being ruled by Arab leaders to becoming a formal kingdom under Norman rule.
Adelaide was the daughter of Manfred del Vasto. Her family was well-known in Italy.
Contents
Countess of Sicily: A Powerful Regent
In 1089, Adelaide married Roger I of Sicily. He was the Count of Sicily. When Roger I died in 1101, Adelaide took on a very important role. She became the regent of Sicily for her young sons, Simon and Roger II. This meant she was in charge of the government until her sons were old enough to rule themselves.
Challenges and Strong Leadership
When Adelaide became regent, Sicily was going through many changes. The Normans, who were new rulers, were still establishing their power. There were some rebellions in parts of Calabria and Sicily. Adelaide handled these uprisings very firmly and quickly.
Despite the challenges, Adelaide was seen as a very capable ruler. A writer named Abbot Alexander of Telese described her as "a most prudent woman, [she] exercised the cares of the government and ruled over the county." Another old document from 1109 called her "the great female ruler, the malikah of Sicily and Calabria, the protector of the Christian faith." This shows how respected she was.
A Diverse Society in Sicily
During Adelaide's time, Sicily was a mix of different cultures. Latin Christians and Arabian Muslims lived together in cities. They often had their own ways of governing and their own courts. People from different backgrounds sometimes even married each other. Adelaide helped keep things stable in this diverse society.
Adelaide's older son, Simon, became count when he was about 8 or 9 years old. However, he sadly died in 1105. This meant Adelaide became regent again for her younger son, Roger II. She continued to rule until Roger II was old enough to take full control in 1112. Even after 1112, her signature appeared on official documents. This suggests she continued to play a role in governing Sicily.
Queen of Jerusalem: A Difficult Marriage
Later, Adelaide's life took another turn. In Jerusalem, King Baldwin I of Jerusalem needed a new wife. His first wife had passed away. The Patriarch of Jerusalem, Arnulf of Chocques, suggested that Baldwin marry Adelaide. This was because Roger II was now old enough to rule Sicily on his own.
Terms of the Marriage
Baldwin sent messengers to Sicily to propose to Adelaide. She had very specific demands for the marriage. She insisted that if they had a son, he would inherit the Kingdom of Jerusalem. If they didn't have children, then her own son, Roger II, would become the king of Jerusalem. Baldwin agreed to these terms.
However, Adelaide was already middle-aged, and they did not have any children. Also, there was a problem: Baldwin's previous wife, Arda, was still alive. This made his marriage to Adelaide complicated and was seen as wrong by many. The Patriarch Arnulf, who had suggested the marriage, was even removed from his position for a time.
Annulment and Return to Sicily
In 1116, Pope Paschal II agreed to let Arnulf become Patriarch again. But there was a condition: Arnulf had to end the marriage between Baldwin and Adelaide. Baldwin agreed to this, especially after he became ill and thought that ending the marriage would help him recover.
So, in 1117, their marriage was officially ended in a place called Acre. Adelaide then sailed back to Sicily.
Adelaide passed away on April 16, 1118, and was buried in Patti. Her son, Roger II, was very angry about how his mother had been treated. He never forgave the Kingdom of Jerusalem for what happened. Years later, during the Second Crusade, Roger still refused to help the Crusader states.
A historian named William of Tyre wrote about how this event affected Roger II. He said that Roger was "angered beyond measure" and held a "mortal hatred against the kingdom and its people." This shows how deeply Roger felt about his mother's treatment.
