Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Beatrice I

suo jure Countess of Burgundy
Reign	22 January 1148 – 15 November 1184
Predecessor	Renaud III
Successor	Frederick I & Otto I
Holy Roman Empress; German Queen
Tenure	9 June 1156 – 15 November 1184
Coronation	1 August 1167, Rome
Queen consort of Italy
Tenure	9 June 1156 – 15 November 1184
Queen consort of Burgundy
Tenure	9 June 1156 – 15 November 1184
Coronation	August 1178, Vienne

Born	1143/5
Died	15 November 1184 Jouhe, near Dôle
Burial	Speyer Cathedral
Spouse	Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Issue among others...	Frederick V, Duke of Swabia Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia Otto I, Count of Burgundy Conrad II, Duke of Swabia Philip, King of Germany
House	Ivrea
Father	Renaud III
Mother	Agatha of Lorraine
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Beatrice I (born between 1143 and 1145 – died 15 November 1184) was an important noblewoman in medieval Europe. She was the Countess of Burgundy from 1148 until she passed away. She also became the Holy Roman Empress because she married Frederick Barbarossa, a powerful emperor.

Beatrice was crowned empress in Rome on 1 August 1167. Later, she was crowned Queen of Burgundy in Vienne in August 1178.

Life of Beatrice I
Beatrice's Children
See also

Life of Beatrice I

Beatrice was the only child of Renaud III, Count of Burgundy and Agatha of Lorraine who survived childhood. This meant she was the only person who could inherit her father's lands and titles. When her father died in 1148, she became the Countess of Burgundy. This made her one of the most sought-after brides in France.

Her uncle, William III of Mâcon, was her guardian and tried to take her lands. He even put her in prison. But then, Emperor Frederick I stepped in and suggested marrying Beatrice himself, which stopped William.

Her Wedding to Frederick I

Frederick I likely wanted to marry Beatrice because her lands, the County of Burgundy, were very important. They offered a new route through the mountains and a good position against the city of Milan. Her lands also provided many knights for his army.

Beatrice and Frederick were married on 9 June 1156 in Würzburg. After their wedding, a bishop officially made Beatrice a queen.

A poem written around 1162 described Beatrice on her wedding day:

"Venus didn't have her beauty,

Minerva didn't have her smart mind

And Juno didn't have her riches.

There was no one else except Mary, mother of Jesus

And Beatrice is so happy she is even better than her.

Her Marriage and Role

After their marriage, Frederick took control of Burgundy because of his wife's rights. They were officially co-rulers, meaning they ruled together. However, Beatrice's name wasn't often on official documents about Burgundy until 1166. After that, more documents were issued in both their names. We don't know exactly how much she was involved in ruling Burgundy. Interestingly, her younger son, Otto, was chosen to inherit Burgundy, not her older son.

Beatrice often traveled with Frederick on his trips and military campaigns across his empire. There's a story that in 1158, Beatrice visited Milan after Frederick had conquered it. The angry people of Milan captured her and made her go through the city in a humiliating way.

Beatrice did play a role in a battle once. During the Siege of Crema in July 1159, she brought much-needed extra soldiers from her own county of Burgundy. She arrived with Henry the Lion and 1,200 knights, helping Frederick's army.

In 1162, after Frederick conquered Milan, the people of Milan begged him for mercy. When he didn't listen, they turned to Beatrice. Even though she didn't meet them, they dropped a cross at her window. It is said that because of Beatrice's suggestion, the lives and belongings of the Milanese people were saved, even though their city was destroyed.

In 1162, an Italian writer named Acerbus Morea saw Beatrice and described her:

"She was of medium height, with shining golden hair, a very beautiful face, and white, well-shaped teeth. She stood straight, had a small mouth, a modest look, and sparkling eyes. She was shy when people praised her. She had very beautiful hands and a slender body. She was completely devoted to her husband, respected him as her lord, and loved him as her husband. She could read and write and was dedicated to God. And just as her name was Beatrix, she was truly happy."

Beatrice was crowned Holy Roman Empress by Antipope Paschal III in Rome on 1 August 1167, after Frederick took Rome. Beatrice is often thought to have supported writers and the ideas of chivalry (knightly behavior). A poet named Gautier d'Arras dedicated his story Ille et Galeron to her.

Later, a sickness spread through the army. As they were leaving, the emperor and empress were attacked by enemies. Beatrice armed herself with two shields and barely escaped a rain of arrows. The emperor escaped, but Beatrice stayed in the enemy city of Susa until 1168, possibly held captive until she was allowed to leave.

The relationship between Beatrice and Frederick is usually described as a happy one. There's nothing to suggest he was ever unfaithful to her. An English writer noted that Frederick was very devoted to his wife and always tried to please her. People who received favors from the emperor, or were allowed back into his good graces, had to give gifts not only to Frederick but also to Beatrice. Many of these gifts were recorded.

Even though Beatrice was rumored to be greatly loved by Frederick, and people thought she had influence over him, there's little proof she was his political advisor. She is only confirmed to have been directly involved in one major political event. In 1168, during a dispute over who should be bishop of Cambrai, Beatrice supported Peter of Cambrai. She successfully stopped an attempt to move the bishopric to a different region. This is believed to be the only time Beatrice took a strong action in a big political matter.

Later Years and Death

Beatrice joined Frederick on all five of his trips to Italy with the army. However, she stayed in cities rather than military camps, as Frederick wanted to keep her safe from danger. In 1174, Frederick attacked Susa to get revenge. It is said that the empress was happy about the destruction of the city that had held her captive.

After conquering Tortona, Beatrice helped save the personal belongings of the city's people. During the Battle of Legnano, after Henry the Lion refused to help, Frederick turned to Beatrice. However, he was eventually defeated. The knights who escaped told Beatrice that the emperor had died. Beatrice and the whole empire mourned, but Frederick returned three days later.

After the Peace of Venice in 1177, Beatrice was no longer called Imperatrix (empress) in official documents. This was because her coronation as empress had been done by an "anti-pope" (a rival pope), and so it was declared invalid. The peace treaty also said that if Frederick died and their young son Henry became emperor, Beatrice and her son should still follow the treaty.

On 30 July 1178, Frederick was crowned King of Burgundy in Arles. Beatrice was there, but she wasn't crowned with him. However, on 15 August 1178, Beatrice was crowned Queen of Burgundy in Vienne. The reason for this separate coronation is not fully known. It might have been to make up for her empress title being taken away, or to show her new role as the ruling Countess of Burgundy.

This event marked a change in Beatrice's life. Frederick left Burgundy later that year, but it seems Beatrice stayed there to govern the county herself. She is confirmed to have visited Germany only three times after this. Instead, Beatrice appears to have lived in Burgundy, ruling the county on her own. Many of her official documents from Burgundy were witnessed by her younger son Otto, who was set to inherit her title as Count Palatine of Burgundy. Even though she was separated from Frederick, Beatrice continued to call herself empress in her own documents. She cared about her reputation and status, like other empresses of her time.

In 1184, Beatrice became sick with an unknown illness at Jouhe and died quickly, at about 40 years old. She was buried in Speyer Cathedral, but her heart was buried in the old abbey at Jouhe. Frederick was very sad about her death.

Beatrice's Children

Beatrice and Frederick had many children:

Beatrice (born late 1162/early 1163 – died by early 1174/1179). She was almost married to King William II of Sicily. She married Guillaume (II) Count of Chalon in 1173.
Frederick V, Duke of Swabia (born Pavia, 16 July 1164 – died 28 November 1170).
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor (born Nijmegen, November 1165 – died Messina, 28 September 1197).
Conrad (born Modigliana, February 1167 – died Acre, 20 January 1191). He was later renamed Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia after his older brother died.
A daughter (possibly Gisela) (born October/November 1168 – died late 1184). She was supposed to marry Richard, Count of Poitou (who later became King of England), but she died before they could marry.
Otto I, Count of Burgundy (born June/July 1170 – died Besançon, 13 January 1200).
Conrad II, Duke of Swabia and Rothenburg (born February/March 1172 – died Durlach, 15 August 1196).
Renaud (born October/November 1173 – died before April 1174/soon after October 1178).
William (born June/July 1175 – died soon after October 1178).
Philip (born February/March 1177 – died Bamberg, 21 June 1208). He became King of Germany in 1198.
Agnes (born early 1179 – died 8 October 1184). She was supposed to marry King Emeric of Hungary but died before they could marry.