Bertha of Holland
Encyclopedia
Bertha of Holland was the first wife of Philip I of France
, the King of France.
, by his wife Gertrude of Saxony
. After her father died in 1061, her mother remarried to Robert I, Count of Flanders
. In 1072 her stepfather concluded a peace treaty with King Philip. As part of the terms of the treaty Bertha was married to Philip.
Nine years passed before Bertha produced the desired son and heir, Louis. Reportedly, her fertility was only restored thanks to the prayers of a hermit, Arnoul, who also named the child.
In 1092, Philip repudiated Bertha, alleging that she was too fat. He confined her to the fortress of Montreuil-sur-Mer
, and took up with Bertrade de Montfort
, the countess of Anjou.
Philip I of France
Philip I , called the Amorous, was King of France from 1060 to his death. His reign, like that of most of the early Direct Capetians, was extraordinarily long for the time...
, the King of France.
Biography
She was the daughter of Floris I, Count of HollandFloris I, Count of Holland
Floris I of Holland was Count of Holland from 1049 to 1061. He was a son of Dirk III and Othelindis....
, by his wife Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony
Gertrude of Saxony , also known as Gertrude Billung, was the daughter of Bernard II, Duke of Saxony and Eilika of Schweinfurt. She married Floris I, Count of Holland c. 1050, and upon his death, her son Dirk V became Count of Holland...
. After her father died in 1061, her mother remarried to Robert I, Count of Flanders
Robert I, Count of Flanders
thumb|Robert I of FlandersRobert I of Flanders , known as Robert the Frisian, was count of Flanders from 1071 to 1092.-History:...
. In 1072 her stepfather concluded a peace treaty with King Philip. As part of the terms of the treaty Bertha was married to Philip.
Nine years passed before Bertha produced the desired son and heir, Louis. Reportedly, her fertility was only restored thanks to the prayers of a hermit, Arnoul, who also named the child.
In 1092, Philip repudiated Bertha, alleging that she was too fat. He confined her to the fortress of Montreuil-sur-Mer
Montreuil-sur-Mer
Montreuil or Montreuil-sur-Mer is a sub-prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is located on the Canche river, not far from Étaples...
, and took up with Bertrade de Montfort
Bertrade de Montfort
Bertrade de Montfort was the daughter of Simon I de Montfort and Agnes, Countess of Evreux. Her brother was Amaury de Montfort.-Marriages:...
, the countess of Anjou.
Children
Together, Philip and Bertha had five children:- ConstanceConstance of FranceConstance of France was the daughter of King Philip I of France and Bertha of Holland. She was a member of the House of Capet and was princess of Antioch from her second marriage and Countess of Champagne from her first marriage. She was regent during the minority of her son.-Family:Her mother was...
, married Hugh I of Champagne before 1097 and then, after her divorce, to Bohemund I of AntiochBohemund I of AntiochBohemond I , Prince of Taranto and Prince of Antioch, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. The Crusade had no outright military leader, but instead was ruled by a committee of nobles...
in 1106 - LouisLouis VI of FranceLouis VI , called the Fat , was King of France from 1108 until his death . Chronicles called him "roi de Saint-Denis".-Reign:...
(1 December 1081–1 August 1137) - Henry (b. 1083) (died young)
- Charles (b. 1085) abbot of Charlieu AbbeyCharlieu AbbeyCharlieu Abbey or St. Fortunatus' Abbey, Charlieu , located at Charlieu, Loire, Burgundy, France, was a Benedictine abbey, and later a Cluniac priory.-History:...
- Eudes (1087–1096)
Ancestry
Sources
- Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines: 101-23, 103-23.
- Duby, Georges. The Knight, the Lady, and the Priest: the making of modern marriage in medieval France, 1983.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: A New Survey of Universal Knowledge, 1942, s.v. "Philip I".