Ermesinde, Countess of Luxembourg facts for kids

Ermesinde (born July 1186 – died 12 February 1247) was an important ruler who served as the Countess of Luxembourg. She ruled from 1197 until she passed away. Ermesinde was the only child of Count Henry IV and his second wife, Agnes of Guelders.

Becoming Countess

Before Ermesinde was born, her father, Count Henry IV of Luxembourg, was getting old. He had decided that his nephew, Count Baldwin V of Hainaut, would be his heir. However, Count Henry IV, who was 74, got back together with his wife, Agnes of Guelders. They had a daughter, Ermesinde. This meant Ermesinde became the new heir instead of Baldwin.

When Henry IV died in 1197, a war started over who would rule. In the end, they decided to split Henry's lands. Baldwin received Namur. Ermesinde received Durbuy and La Roche. Luxembourg went back to its ruler, Emperor Henry VI. He then gave Luxembourg to his brother, Otto.

Ermesinde's Reign

Ermesinde was first supposed to marry Count Henry II of Champagne. But this plan was canceled in 1189. Instead, she married Count Theobald I of Bar. He successfully talked with Count Philip I of Namur and his brother, Count Baldwin IX of Flanders. They agreed to give up their claims to Luxembourg. This made Theobald and Ermesinde the Count and Countess of Luxembourg.

When Theobald died in 1214, Ermesinde married Count Waleran III of Limburg (1180–1226). They ruled Luxembourg together. In 1223, Ermesinde and Waleran tried to claim Namur from Philip II. However, they were not successful. After Waleran died, Ermesinde ruled Luxembourg by herself for twenty years. She was a very good leader. She gave special rights to several towns and helped her country become more successful.

Her Burial Place

Sarcophagus of Countess Ermesinde

A story says that Ermesinde saw the Virgin Mary. Because of this, she planned to build the Clairefontaine Abbey in that spot. In her will, she asked to be buried there. Her son, Henry V, built the abbey.

Many years later, in the late 1700s, French soldiers destroyed the abbey. But in 1747, just before the old abbey was destroyed, the nuns had hidden Ermesinde's remains in a chapel. The Jesuits found her remains during rebuilding work between 1875 and 1877. Today, her remains are in the crypt of the Clairefontaine chapel.

Children

Ermesinde had children with her first husband, Theobald I of Bar:

• Renaud (died before 1214), Lord of Briey
• Elisabeth (died 1262), who married Valéran of Limburg, Lord of Monschau
• Margaret (died?), who first married Hugh III, Count of Vaudémont (died 1243); she later married Henry of Bois, who was a regent of Vaudémont.

Ermesinde also had children with her second husband, Waleran III, Count of Limburg:

• Henry V of Luxembourg (1216–1281), who became Count of Luxembourg
• Gérard I of Durbuy, who became Count of Durbuy (died 1276)
• Catherine of Limburg (died 1255), who was the wife of Matthias II, Duke of Lorraine

See also

In Spanish: Ermesinda I de Luxemburgo para niños