Ermengarde-Blanche of Anjou facts for kids

Ermengarde-Blanche of Anjou (born around 1018, died 1076) was an important French noblewoman. She became a Countess and later a Duchess through her marriages. Some people also called her Hermangarde. She was an heiress from the powerful Anjou family. Her family line later led to the House of Plantagenet, which included kings of England.

Her Life and Marriages

Ermengarde-Blanche was the daughter of Count Fulk III of Anjou and his wife, Hildegarde. Her marriages were very helpful for her father and brother, who were counts of Anjou.

First Marriage to Geoffrey II

Ermengarde-Blanche first married Geoffrey II, Count of Gâtinais. He was also known as Ferréol. This marriage was very important because it helped the counts of Anjou get back control of a place called Château-Landon. It took about a year and a half to arrange this marriage. During that time, Ermengarde's father, Fulk, paid a lot of attention to Château-Landon.

Fulk and his wife, Hildegarde, also started a monastery called Le Ronceray. It was first a church for St. Mary. Hildegarde worked hard to rebuild it into a large monastery. They gave many gifts to this monastery, including a forest. They gave more gifts to this monastery than to any other church.

Ermengarde-Blanche had two sons with Geoffrey II: Geoffrey III and Fulk IV, Count of Anjou. Both of her sons later became counts of Anjou after her brother, Geoffrey II Martel. Many important people, including the Plantagenet kings of England, are her descendants.

Second Marriage to Robert I

After her first husband Geoffrey died, Ermengarde-Blanche married Robert I, Duke of Burgundy. Robert was the son of King Robert II of France.

Ermengarde and Robert were related by blood. They both came from the same family line, the Ingelger family. Family charts made between 1048 and 1052 showed how closely the Anjou and Capet families were connected. These charts were likely made because people were worried about who Ermengarde and Robert's daughter, Hildegarde, could marry.

Ermengarde-Blanche died on March 18, 1076, in a place called Fleury-sur-Ouche. Her husband, Robert, died just three days later in the same place.

Her Family

Ermengarde-Blanche had children from both of her marriages.

Children with Geoffrey II

With her first husband, Geoffrey II, she had these children:

• Hildegarde de Château-Landon: She married Joscelin I, Lord of Courtenay, around 1060.
• Geoffrey III of Anjou
• Fulk IV, Count of Anjou

Daughter with Robert I

With her second husband, Robert I, Duke of Burgundy, she had one daughter:

• Hildegarde (born around 1056, died 1104): She married Duke William VIII of Aquitaine.