Agnès de Bourgogne & de Macon

• Daughter of Otto-Guillaume, Comte de Bourgogne and Ermentrude de Roucy
• Place of Burial: Poitiers, Priory of Saint-Nicolas, Poitiers, Departement de la Vienne, Poitou-Charentes, France
• Find A Grave Memorial

Project MedLands, BURGUNDIAN NOBILITY

GUGLIELMO di Ivrea, son of ADALBERTO II associate-King of Italy & his wife Gerberge [de Chalon] ([960/62]-Dijon 21 Sep 1026, bur Dijon, Abbaye de Saint-Bénigne). Rodulfus Glaber names "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuignus, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" and records that, as a boy, he was secretly stolen from the land of the Lombards and restored to his mother "with no small cunning by a certain monk"[60]. "Einricus…imperator" confirmed the property of the abbey of Fruttuaria, referring to property donated by "Otto qui et Vuillielmus comes filius Adalberti nepos Berengarii regis", by charter dated 1014[61]. It is assumed therefore that Guillaume was imprisoned as a child by Emperor Otto I in Italy after his father and paternal grandfather were deposed as kings of Italy. The Chronicle of Saint-Bénigne, interpolated into the Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines, names "Guilelmum Ottonem et eius matrem Gerbergam" when recording that he was adopted by his mother's second husband "dux Burgundie Henricus"[62]. He adopted the name OTHON-GUILLAUME. He succeeded in [981] as Comte de Mâcon, by right of his first wife. He was declared heir to the duchy of Burgundy and installed as Comte de Nevers by his stepfather in 986. He was recognised as duke of Burgundy on the death of his stepfather in 1002, but deprived of his inheritance by Robert II King of France in Spring 1003 when the latter invaded Burgundy with troops lent by Richard II Duke of Normandy. Rodulfus Glaber records that "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuignus, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" rebelled against the king [Robert II] on one occasion, supported by his son-in-law Landry Comte de Nevers[63]. "Comes Otto" donated property to Saint-Bénigne-de-Dijon for the souls of "Heinrici ducis qui eum loco filii adoptavit et genetricis sue Gerberge uxoris predicti ducis ac filii sui Widonis et Hermintrudis coniugis" by charter dated 1004[64]. Comte Othon continued to claim the duchy of Burgundy, but reconciled himself with the king of France in 1005, finally renouncing his claims in 1015. He was designated comes Burgundiæ[65], presumably a descriptive title with no precise territorial significance at that time although Othon did own extensive territories in Burgundy. “Comes Octo cognomento Vuillelmus” donated property “mihi secundum parentum successionem...infra alpes Pinninarum et flumen Padum et flumen Duriæ Bauticæ quod iuxta urbem Euoreiam” to Fruttuaria monastery, for the souls of “meæ et uxoris et filiorum et filiarum”, by charter dated 28 Oct 1019[66]. The Chronicle of St Bénigne de Dijon records the death in 1027 of "Otto qui et Willelmus dictus est comes" and his burial at St Bénigne[67]. The memorial on the tomb of "Nobiliter natus Guillelmus et Otho vocatus" records his death "1027 XI Kal Oct"[68]. The necrology of Autun Saint-Martin records the death “XVI Id Dec” of “Guillelmus dux Burgundie, anno 1025”[69].
married firstly (before [981/82]%29 as her second husband, ERMENTRUDE, widow of AUBRY [II] Comte de Mâcon, daughter of RAGENOLD Comte de Roucy & his wife Alberade of Lotharingia ([947/52]-[5 Oct 1002/1004]). "Ermentrudis" is named as daughter of "Alberada filia …Gerbergæ" in the Continuator of Flodoard, which does not name either her father or her husband but specifies that Ermentrude was the mother of Agnes[70], the latter naming both her parents in charters (see below). Bouchard highlights the absence of proof that the husband of Alberade of Lotharingia was Ragenold Comte de Roucy[71]. Her birth date is estimated from her son by her first marriage being named in 971. "Ermentrudis conjuge sua" consented to the donation of land "in Aponiaco villa" by "Albericus comes Matisconensis" to Cluny by charter dated 14 Jan 971[72]. The genealogy of the Comtes de Mâcon, included in the cartulary of Saint-Vincent de Mâcon, records the marriage of "dominus Guillelmus comes" with the wife of "Albericus filius Letaudi comitis"[73]. Rodulfus Glaber states that "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuignus, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" married the sister of "Brunone Lingonensi episcopo" who supported him in his rebellion against the king [Robert II][74]. "Otto comes, Irvis comitissa" subscribed a charter dated to [994] under which "Milo…uxoris mee Ermengarde" donated property to Cluny[75]. It is assumed that "Irvis" is a copyist error or abbreviation for "Ermentrudis" as no other reference to a countess of this name has been found. Her date of death is indicated by the Chronicle of St Bénigne de Dijon which records a donation by "Otto comes cognomento Willelmus" with "filii eius Rainaldi" dated 1004 "pro anima Hinrici Ducis, qui eum loco filii adoptavit et genitricis sue Gerberge uxoris predicti Ducis, ac filii sui Widonis et Hermintrudis coniugis"[76]. This is presumably the donation recorded in the charter dated 1004 under which "Comes Otto" donated property to Saint-Bénigne-de-Dijon for the souls of "Heinrici ducis qui eum loco filii adoptavit et genetricis sue Gerberge uxoris predicti ducis ac filii sui Widonis et Hermintrudis coniugis"[77]. married secondly (before 1016) ADELAIS, daughter of --- (-29 May 1026, bur Montmajour, near Arles). "Otto comes et uxor mea Adila" donated property to Saint-Vincent de Mâcon by two charters dated to 1015 or before (during the reign of Robert I King of France) both subscribed by "Rainaldi filii sui"[78]. "Otto comes et uxor mea Adeleidis et filius meus Rainaldus atque Otto nepos meus" donated property to Cluny by charter dated to [1015][79]. "Otto comes qui nominatur Willelmus" issued a charter dated 2 Nov 1023 subscribed by "Raynardi comitis, Adheleydis uxoris eius"[80]. The origin of Otto-Guillaume's second wife is not known with certainty. Most secondary source genealogies assume that she was Adelais [Blanche] d'Anjou, widow firstly of Etienne de Brioude, widow secondly of Raymond Comte de Toulouse, divorced wife thirdly of Louis V King of the Franks, widow fourthly of Guillaume [II] Comte de Provence, daughter of Foulques II "le Bon" Comte d’Anjou & his first wife Gerberge ---. Adelais's supposed fifth marriage is deduced from the following: Count Othon-Guillaume's wife is named Adelais in several charters[81], and Pope Benedict VIII refers to "domnæ Adeleidi comitissæ cognomento Blanchæ" with "nuruique eius domnæ Gerbergæ comitissæ" when addressing her supposed husband[82], Gerberga presumably being Count Othon-Guillaume's daughter by his first wife who was the widow of Adelaide-Blanche d’Anjou's son by her fourth husband. However, the document in question appears not to specify that "domnæ Adeleidi…" was the wife of Othon Guillaume and the extracts seen (the full text has not yet been consulted) do not permit this conclusion to be drawn. It is perfectly possible that Adelais-Blanche was named in the letter only in reference to her relationship to Othon Guillaume’s daughter. If her fifth marriage is correct, Adelais would have been considerably older than her new husband, and probably nearly sixty years old when she married (Othon-Guillaume's first wife died in [1002/04]), which seems unlikely. Another difficulty is presented by three entries dated 1018, 1024 and 1026 which appear to link Adelais to Provence while, if the fifth marriage was correct, she would have been with her husband (whose death is recorded in Sep 1026) in Mâcon. These entries are: firstly, "Adalax comitissa mater Villelmi quondam Provintie comitis et Geriberga eque comitissa…eiusdem principis olim uxor" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille for the soul of their late son and husband respectively by charter dated 1018[83]; secondly, "Vuilelmus filius Rodbaldi" donated property "in comitatu Aquense in valle…Cagnanam" to Marseille Saint-Victor by charter dated 1024, signed by "Adalaiz comitissa, Vuilelmus comes filius Rodbaldi"[84]; and thirdly, a manuscript written by Arnoux, monk at Saint-André-lès-Avignon, records the death in 1026 of "Adalax comitissa"[85]. The necrology of Saint-Pierre de Mâcon records the death "IV Kal Jun" of "Adalasia comitissa vocata regali progenie orta"[86].

Comte Othon [I] & his first wife had five children:

• 1. GUY de Mâcon ([982]-1004 or before, bur Dijon Saint-Bénigne). The Chronicle of St Bénigne de Dijon records a donation by "Otto comes cognomento Willelmus" with "filii eius Rainaldi" dated 1004 "pro anima Hinrici Ducis, qui eum loco filii adoptavit et genitricis sue Gerberge uxoris predicti Ducis, ac filii sui Widonis et Hermintrudis coniugis"[87]. "Comes Otto" donated property to Saint-Bénigne-de-Dijon for the souls of "Heinrici ducis qui eum loco filii adoptavit et genetricis sue Gerberge uxoris predicti ducis ac filii sui Widonis et Hermintrudis coniugis" by charter dated 1004[88]. The Chronicle of St Bénigne de Dijon records that he was buried at St Bénigne many years before his father[89]. married (before 999) --- . The origin of the wife of Comte Guy is not known with certainty. One possibility is that she was --- de Chalon, daughter of Lambert Comte de Chalon & his second wife Adelais ---. This possible origin of the mother of Othon [II] Comte de Mâcon is deduced from the undated charter under which "domnus Hugo comes Cabilonensium" donated property "in pago Augustudunensi in villa Martiniacensi" to Paray-le-Monial which is subscribed by "Ottonis nepotis eius, Teudbaldi nepotis eius, Maltidis sororis eius"[90]. The same relationship is stated in the charter dated 1018 under which "Vualterius Æduorum presul" donated property to the abbey of Flavigny subscribed by "Landricus comes, Otto comes nepos Hugonis episcopi, Tetbaldus comes nepos ipsius episcopi"[91], and in the charter dated 1020 under which "Wido clericus" donated property "in pago Cabillonense" to Cluny, subscribed by "Ugo comes et episcopus et nepos eius Otto comes…"[92]. One explanation is that "Otto comes" in these three charters was the same person as Othon-Guillaume Comte de Mâcon, and that he was nepos of Hugues Comte de Chalon because his mother Gerberge was Hugues's older half-sister. However, as discussed in relation to the Comtes de Chalon, the theory about Gerberge's Chalon origin is far from certain. Another possibility is therefore that the three charters refer to Othon [II] Comte de Mâcon, grandson of Otto-Guillaume, the identity of whose mother has been the subject of much academic speculation. If this second possibility is correct, this unnamed daughter presumably died before her sister Mathilde as she did not subscribe the 1018 charter. Other possibilities are discussed by Le Hête but the author does not refer to these charters[93].

Comte Guy & his wife had one child

• a) OTHON [II] de Mâcon ([1000]-[1033/41]). The Chronicle of Saint-Bénigne, interpolated into the Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines, names "Ottonem" as son of "Guido", when recording that Guido died before his father "Otto Guillelmus" and in a later passage records that "filius alterius filii eius Guidonis, alter comes Otto" succeeded his paternal grandfather in "terram ultra Sagonnam", dividing the territory with his paternal uncle "comes Rainaldus"[94]. He succeeded his father in [1004], and his grandfather in 1026, as Comte de Mâcon.
  

• 2. MATHILDE de Mâcon (-13 Nov or 13 Dec 1005, bur Auxerre Saint-Etienne). Rodulfus Glaber states that "Landrico Neuernis comite" was married to the oldest daughter of "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuignus, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" & his wife, when recording that Comte Landry supported his father-in-law in the latter's rebellion against the king [Robert II][95]. She is named in the charter dated to [1028/40] under which "Rainaldus…comes" donated property "in pago Nevernense…Belmontis" to Cluny for the souls of "patris mei Landrici et matris mee Matildis…"[96]. Her father gave her Nevers, which she brought as dowry to her husband. The necrology of Auxerre cathedral records the death 13 Dec of "Mathildis comitissa, Landrici coniux"[97]. m ([989][98]%29 LANDRY [IV] de Monceau, son of BODO Seigneur de Monceaux-le-Comte & his wife --- (-11 May 1028). He was invested in 990 as Comte de Nevers by his father-in-law as a reward for services. Seneschal of France. Comte d'Auxerre 1015.
• 3. GERBERGE de Mâcon ([985]-[1020/23]). Rodulfus Glaber states that "Willemus…Arelatensis" married one of the daughters of "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuignus, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" & his wife but does not name her[99]. She is named in several charters of Saint-Victor de Marseille. "Wilelmus comes Provincie coniugisque mea Girberga cum filio nostro Wilelmo" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille by charter dated 1013[100]. "Adalax comitissa mater Villelmi quondam Provintie comitis et Geriberga eque comitissa…eiusdem principis olim uxor" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille for the soul of their late son and husband respectively by charter dated 1018[101]. "Geriberga comitissa" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille for the soul of "senioris mei Guilelmi comitis Provincie" and for "filiorumque nostrorum…Wilelmo, Fulcho, Jozfredus" by charter dated 1019[102]. married ([1002]%29 GUILLAUME III Comte de Provence, son of GUILLAUME II Comte de Provence et d'Arles & his second wife Adelais [Blanche] d'Anjou (-1018 before 30 May).
• 4. RENAUD de Mâcon ([990]-3/4 Sep 1057, bur Besançon). The Chronicle of St Bénigne de Dijon records a donation by "Otto comes cognomento Willelmus" with "filii eius Rainaldi" dated 1004 "pro anima Hinrici Ducis, qui eum loco filii adoptavit et genitricis sue Gerberge uxoris predicti Ducis, ac filii sui Widonis et Hermintrudis coniugis"[103]. The Chronicle of Saint-Bénigne, interpolated into the Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines, records that "filius eius [=comes Otto Guilelmus] comes Rainaldus" succeeded his father in "terram ultra Sagonnam" dividing the territory with his nephew "filius alterius filii eius Guidonis, alter comes Otto"[104]. He succeeded his father in 1026 as Comte Palatin de Bourgogne.
• 5. AGNES de Mâcon ([990/95]-Saintes 10 Nov 1068, bur Poitiers, Priory of Saint-Nicolas). Agnes is named as daughter of "Ermentrudis" in the Continuator of Flodoard, which specifies that she was mother of "Wido"[105]. Her birth date range is estimated on the basis of the estimated birth date range of her mother. Rodulfus Glaber states that "Willemus…Pictauensis" married one of the daughters of "Willemus, Henrici ducis priuignus, Adalberti Longobardorum ducis filius" & his wife[106]. "Agnes comitissa filia Ottonis cognomento Willelmi comitis Matiscensis, uxor…Wilelmi ducis Aquitanorum" donated property to Cluny by charter dated [1020][107]. The Chronico Sancti Michaelis records that "Gaufredus Martellus Andegavensis comes" married "Agnetem comitissam Pictavensem" incestuously in 1032[108]. The Chronicæ Sancti Albini records the marriage "1032 Kal Jan" of "Gaufridus comes, Agnetem comitissam incesto", indirectly indicating her origin in a later passage which records the marriage "1043 XII Nov" of "Hainricus imperator [et] filiam Agnetis comitissæ"[109]. Her origin is clarified by the Chronicæ Sancti Albini which records the marriage "1043 XII Kal Nov…apud Vesbrianim" of "Henricus imperator…filiam Willelmi comitis Pictavorum et Agnetis"[110]. Geoffroy Comte d'Anjou & his wife founded the abbey of La Trinité de Vendôme by charter dated 31 May 1040, signed by "Goffridi comitis Andegavorum, Agnetis conjugis suæ…"[111]. A powerful personality, she succeeded in defeating her stepson Duke Eudes and installed her own son as Duke of Aquitaine, Comte de Poitou. Regent of Aquitaine for her son 1039-1044. She arranged her daughter's marriage with Emperor Heinrich III in 1043 and lived at the imperial court after this time. "Goffredus…comes atque Agnes…uxor" donated property to the monks of La Trinité, Vendôme by charter dated 6 Jan 1049 subscribed by "Willelmi ducis Aquitanorum, Goffredi pueri fratris illius"[112]. "Gaufredus Andegavorum comes…uxor mea Agnes" made a donation to the priory of Saint-Nicholas de Poitiers by undated charter which also names "eius [Agnetis] filii comites…Pictavenses"[113]. A charter dated to [1060/67] recites a prior donation to Saint-Aubin d'Angers by "Hildegardis comitissa", who retained a life interest in the property which, after the death of the donor, was sold in turn to "Agneti comitissa" (recording her divorce from "comitum Gaufridum"), "comitem Gaufridum…Gaufridi nepotem" and finally "fratre eius Fulconi" who restored it to the abbey[114]. After her separation from her second husband, in 1047 she founded the abbey of Notre-Dame de Saintes, where she became a nun in 1068[115]. "Agnes" founded the abbey of Saint-Nicolas at Poitou with the consent of "ambobus filiis Guillelmi et Gauffrido" by charter dated [1050][116]. "Aquitanorum…dux Gaufridus" confirms in his charter dated [1058/68] that "mea mater Agnes…frater meus Guillelmus" were both buried in the priory of Saint-Nicolas de Poitiers[117]. The necrology of Vendôme La Trinité records the death "IV Id Nov" of "Agnes comitissa"[118]. married firstly (1019) as his third wife, GUILLAUME III "le Grand" Comte de Poitou, GUILLAUME V Duke of Aquitaine, son of GUILLAUME IV "Fier-à-Bras" Duke of Aquitaine [GUILLAUME II Comte de Poitou] & his wife Emma de Blois ([969]-Abbaye de Maillezais 31 Jan 1030). married secondly (1 Jan 1032, divorced [1049/52]%29 as his first wife, GEOFFROY d'Anjou, son of FOULQUES III "Nerra" Comte d'Anjou & his second wife Hildegarde [de Metz] (14 Oct [1006/07]-14 Nov 1060). He succeeded his father in 1040 as GEOFFROY II "Martel" Comte d'Anjou.

Agnes of Burgundy (or Agnes de Macon), Duchess of Aquitaine, by Wikipedia

Agnes of Burgundy (or Agnes de Macon), Duchess of Aquitaine (died 10 November 1068) was a daughter of Otto-William, Count of Burgundy and Ermentrude of Roucy. She was a member of the House of Ivrea.

Life

We do not know the date of the birth of Agnes but it is probably shortly before the year 1000.[2] Agnes' father was the son of Adalbert of Italy.

First Marriage: Duchess of Aquitaine

In 1019, she married Duke William V of Aquitaine by whom she had three children: William VII, Duke of Aquitaine, William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine and Agnes, Holy Roman Empress. William died on January 31, 1030, leaving his widow and their three young children, plus the three surviving children from his first two marriages.

Second Marriage: Countess of Anjou

After her husband's death, Agnes lost her influence at the court of Poitiers since her sons were not heirs. In order for her to regain her position and ensure a future for her children, Agnes had to remarry. Thus she married Geoffrey II, Count of Anjou which was an attractive offer because his father was the powerful Fulk III, Count of Anjou.

In 1033, Geoffrey's troops invaded Poitou with the support of Agnes. William VI, Duke of Aquitaine the new Count of Poitou, was captured in March. He was released only in 1036 against a large ransom and he died in 1038 without children. The county then returned to his brother, Agnes' stepson Odo of Gascony, who was already Duke of Gascony. He went to war against Agnes, her husband and sons. Odo was killed at the battle at Mauzé.

Regency

The succeeding Count of Poitou was Agnes's son, Peter, who took the name of William VII Aigret. Being too young, his mother governed territories in his place from 1039 to 1044 and indeed it even seems the government itself, without her husband. When she transmitted the power to William, she married and took the opportunity to give his second son, Geoffrey Guy the duchy of Gascony, by marrying an heiress. Agnes then joined Geoffrey in Anjou and although she may not have actively participated in the government, certainly had some influence on him.

Agnes and Geoffrey stayed in Germany at the imperial court, so her daughter Agnes could marry Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. They then bonded with the imperial couple, during a trip to Italy where they participated in the council of Sutri, filing and inducting two popes Pope Clement II, who was quick to crown the emperor and empress. After a pilgrimage to Monte Garaño, the couple went back to Poitou in 1047 where they founded the Abbey of Our Lady and Sacred. Between 1047 and 1049, Agnes founded the abbey of Saint Nicolas de Poitiers.

Separation from Geoffrey

Between 1049 and 1052, Agnes and Geoffrey separated. The reasons are varied: the most logical is the absence of children, however we must not forget that the council of Reims in 1049 condemned certain marriages as incestuous and judged them to part; in addition, Geoffrey went to war against the King of France who appreciated the little freedom from war that would take his vassal to Germany (it seems that Geoffrey had to swear allegiance to the emperor and to no longer depend on the King of France) and it is very possible that the King imposed on his vanquished vassal that he should divorce his wife. Indeed, Agnes also influenced her husband, but she came from Burgundy and had retained strong links with her homeland, so it may be that it was Agnes who wanted the divorce.

Later life

Still, Agnes returned to the court of Poitiers and her son William over whom she had much influence. A war soon broke out between Anjou and Poitou, which saw a victory for Geoffrey in 1053. This would have probably never happened if Agnes had not divorced Geoffrey. In 1058 William left for another war against his former stepfather Count of Anjou, probably because Geoffrey gave the dowry of Agnes to his new wife, Adelaide. William was on the verge of winning when he died of an illness in 1058.

He was succeeded by his brother, Geoffrey Guy, who took the dynastic name of William VIII. The young count had remained close to Geoffrey because he was the only father figure he knew and he reconciled with Anjou. But only during Geoffrey's lifetime, in fact, after Geoffrey's death, William did not hesitate to attack his heirs and assume control of Saintonge from 1062. Agnes, despite her retirement, was still very active and did not hesitate to travel throughout Poitou to participate in donations or simply see her son at the court of Poitiers. Agnes died on 10 November 1068. She is buried at St. Nicolas de Poitiers.

Sources

• Michel Dillange, The Comtes de Poitou, Dukes of Aquitaine (778-1204), Geste editions, al. "The Nativity", 1995, 304p. (ISBN 2-910919-09-9) .
• Olivier Guillot, Count of Anjou and his entourage at XIecentury, Editions Picard, Paris, 1972 .
• Penelope D. Johnson, "Agnes of Burgundy: an eleventh-century monastic woman as boss"InJournal of Medieval History, June 1989 .
• Alfred Richard History of the Counts of Poitou, vol.1, Paris, 1903 .
• Isabelle Soulard-Berger, "Agnes of Burgundy, Duchess of Aquitaine and Countess of Anjou. Implement political and religious action (1019-c. 1068)"In bulletin of the Antiquarian Society of the West, vol.VI, 1er quarter 1992 .