Ermengarde of Anjou (died 1146) facts for kids

Ermengarde of Anjou (c. 1068 – 1 June 1146), also known as Ermengarde of Brittany, was an important noblewoman from the House of Anjou. She became a Duchess twice through her marriages: first as Duchess of Aquitaine and then as Duchess of Brittany. Ermengarde was also a strong supporter of Fontevraud Abbey, a famous monastery. She even ruled Brittany as a regent (a temporary ruler) when her husband, Duke Alan IV, was away on a crusade from 1096 to 1101.

Ermengarde of Anjou: A Powerful Medieval Woman

Her Early Life

Ermengarde was born in Angers around 1068. She was the oldest child of Count Fulk IV of Anjou and Hildegarde of Beaugency. Sadly, her mother died when Ermengarde was only two years old. She received a good education, possibly at the Ronceray abbey. From a young age, she was very religious and cared deeply about making the church better. She especially wanted to stop people from taking church property for themselves. A poet named Marbode of Rennes wrote about her when she was young, noting her intelligence and beauty. He also offered her spiritual advice.

Marriages and Family

First Marriage: Duchess of Aquitaine

Some historical records suggest that Ermengarde married William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, around 1089. William was a young Duke and a famous poet. However, this marriage did not last long. The couple faced difficulties, and the marriage ended in 1091. William sent her back to her father, and the marriage was officially ended. Historians still debate whether this marriage truly happened, as some records from that time are not very clear.

Second Marriage: Duchess of Brittany

In 1092 or 1093, Ermengarde's father arranged for her to marry Duke Alan IV of Brittany. This marriage was likely a political move to create an alliance against Normandy. It was common for noble women in the 12th century to have political power, sometimes even more than their husbands. Ermengarde and Alan had three children: Conan III, Hawise, and Geoffrey. It is also thought that Ermengarde might have helped raise her half-brother, Fulk V of Anjou, alongside her own children.

Ermengarde was not always happy in her marriage to Alan IV. She tried several times to end her marriage so she could live a more religious life. However, religious leaders did not allow it. They told her it was her duty to stay in the world and fulfill God's plan for her. Letters from religious leaders like Robert of Arbrissel show that Ermengarde was very intelligent and well-read. She also received advice from other important religious figures, including Geoffrey of Vendome and St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

Regent of Brittany

When her husband, Duke Alan IV, left for Palestine in 1096 to join the First Crusade, Ermengarde became the regent of Brittany. This meant she ruled the Duchy from 1096 until 1101 while her husband was away. Even though Brittany was politically unstable at the time, Ermengarde proved to be a strong and popular ruler. She used her family connections and alliances to keep the region stable. She continued to be active in ruling alongside Alan when he returned from the crusades. Ermengarde also had close ties with the church and supported important reforms. Geoffrey of Vendome praised her leadership, saying she was "fighting for God rather than caught up in worldly affairs."

Ermengarde preferred to spend her time in Nantes and the Saumur region rather than Rennes. She was influenced by Robert of Arbrissel and supported the growth of the abbey at Fontevraud. She even stayed there herself from 1103 to 1105 due to problems in her marriage with Alan. In 1112, Alan decided to step down as Duke and became a monk at the Redon monastery. Ermengarde continued to rule with her son, Conan III, for many years.

Later Life and Religious Pursuits

Throughout her marriage to Duke Alan IV, Ermengarde often tried to become a nun, but her requests were always denied because she was married. It was common for noblewomen to retire to a monastery later in life, but not as common for them to take religious vows like Ermengarde wished to do. By 1116, Ermengarde was living at Fontevrault Abbey. She reportedly became friends with Philippa of Toulouse, who was the second wife of her first husband, William of Aquitaine.

After Philippa's death in 1118, Ermengarde decided to take action. She traveled to the court of her former husband, Duke William of Aquitaine, and demanded to be recognized as the rightful Duchess. William ignored her request. So, in October 1119, she appeared at a big meeting called the Council of Reims, led by Pope Calixtus II. She asked the Pope to punish William and restore her as Duchess. The Pope did not grant her request, but Ermengarde continued to cause trouble for William for several years.

In 1121, Ermengarde and her half-brother, Fulk V, started a new monastery for Cistercian monks in Anjou. They also gave gifts to the nuns at the Ronceray abbey in 1129.

Around 1128, Fulk left for the Holy Land to become King of Jerusalem. In 1130, Ermengarde was finally allowed to become a Cistercian nun at a priory near Dijon. However, she left the priory by 1132 and visited her brother, King Fulk, in Jerusalem. While there, Ermengarde helped fund the building of a church in Nablus. She later stayed at a convent in Jerusalem. After returning to Brittany by 1134, she and her son Conan III founded another Cistercian monastery near Nantes in 1135.

Death

Ermengarde went on a crusade to Palestine at some point. She returned ten years later. Some historians believe she died in Jerusalem at the convent of Saint Anne. However, records from Redon Abbey state that she died in 1146 in Redon, where her second husband, Alan IV, was buried. It is believed that she died as a nun. The different accounts of her death and burial might mean that she died in Jerusalem, and her body was later brought back to Redon.