Ermesinda of Bigorre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ermesinda
A depiction of Queen Ermesinda with a book
Queen consort of Aragon
Tenure	1036–1049
Born	1015
Died	1 December 1049
Spouse	Ramiro I of Aragon
Issue	Sancho Ramírez García, Bishop of Jaca Teresa Sancha Urraca
Full name Ermesinda (born Gerberga)
House	House of Foix
Father	Bernard-Roger, Count of Bigorre
Mother	Garsenda, Heiress of Bigorre

Ermesinda of Bigorre was a queen of Aragon. She was born Gerberga around the year 1015. Her parents were Bernard-Roger, Count of Bigorre, and Garsenda, Heiress of Bigorre. Ermesinda belonged to an important family called the House of Foix. She had brothers named Bernard II and Roger I. She might also have had a sister named Stephanie.

Marriage and Royal Life

Gerberga married Ramiro I of Aragon on August 22, 1036. After her wedding, Gerberga changed her name to Ermesinda. They were married for thirteen years. During this time, her husband Ramiro became a very powerful ruler. He started with small lands around Jaca. He then grew his territory into a kingdom. This kingdom included the areas of Aragon, Sobrarbe, and Ribagorza. Ramiro I is known as the first King of Aragon.

Ermesinda and Ramiro had five children together:

• Sancho Ramírez (born around 1042 – died June 4, 1094). He became king after his father.
• García, who became the Bishop of Jaca (died July 17, 1086).
• Teresa (born 1037). She married William Bertrand of Provence. They did not have any children.
• Sancha (died 1097). She might have married Pons, Count of Toulouse, and later Ermengol III, Count of Urgell.
• Urraca (died 1077). She became a nun.

All of Ermesinda's children lived to become adults.

Death and Burial

Queen Ermesinda died on December 1, 1049. She was buried at the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña. Four years after her death, her husband Ramiro I married again to Agnes.