Biography Adelaide of Susa

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 marriages
1.3 widowhood , rule
1.4 relationship empire
1.5 relationship church
1.6 death

biography
early life

born in turin ulric manfred ii , bertha around 1014/1020, adelaide s life not known. adelaide had 2 younger sisters, immilla , bertha. may have had brother, name not known, predeceased father. thus, on ulric manfred s death (in december 1033 or 1034), adelaide inherited bulk of father s property. received property in counties of turin (especially in susa valley), auriate, , asti. adelaide inherited property, not comital authority, in counties of albenga, alba, bredulo , ventimiglia. adelaide s mother, bertha, briefly acted regent adelaide after ulric manfred s death.

marriages

since margravial title had military purpose @ time, not considered suitable woman. emperor conrad ii therefore arranged marriage between adelaide , stepson, herman iv, in 1036 or 1037. herman invested margrave of turin. herman died of plague while fighting conrad ii @ naples in july 1038.

adelaide remarried in order secure vast possessions. in 1041, , before 19th january 1042, adelaide married henry, marquess of montferrat. henry died c.1045 , left adelaide widow second time. immediately, third marriage undertaken, time otto of savoy (1046). otto had 3 sons, peter i, amadeus ii, , otto. couple had 2 daughters, bertha, married henry iv of germany, , adelaide, married rudolf of rheinfelden (who later opposed henry king of germany).

widowhood , rule

after death of husband otto, c.1057/60, adelaide ruled march of turin , county of savoy alongside sons, peter , amadeus.

it said adelaide abandoned turin capital , began reside permanently @ susa. incorrect. adelaide documented far more @ margravial palace in turin anywhere else.

in 1070 adelaide captured , burned city of asti, had rebelled against her.

relationship empire

in 1069 henry iv tried repudiate adelaide s daughter, bertha, caused adelaide s relationship imperial family cool. however, through intervention of bertha, henry received adelaide s support when came italy submit pope gregory vii , matilda of tuscany @ canossa. in return allowing him travel through lands, henry gave bugey adelaide. adelaide , son amadeus accompanied henry iv , bertha canossa, adelaide acted mediator, alongside matilda , albert azzo ii, margrave of milan, among others. bishop benzo of alba sent several letters adelaide between 1080 , 1082, encouraging support henry iv in italian wars formed part of investiture controversy. adelaide s dealings henry iv became closer after this. offered mediate between him , matilda of tuscany, , may have joined him on campaign in southern italy in 1084.

relationship church

adelaide made many donations monasteries in march of turin. in 1064 founded monastery of santa maria @ pinerolo.

adelaide received letters many of leading churchmen of day, including pope alexander ii, peter damian, , pope gregory vii. these letters indicate adelaide supported gregorian reform, @ other times did not. peter damian (writing in 1064) , gregory vii (writing in 1073), relied upon adelaide enforce clerical celibacy , protect monasteries of fruttuaria , san michele della chiusa. contrast, alexander ii (writing c.1066/7) reproached adelaide dealings guido da velate simoniac archbishop of milan.

death

adelaide died in december 1091. according later legend, buried in parochial church of canischio (canisculum), small village on cuorgnè in valle dell orco, had supposedly been living incognito twenty-two years before death. medieval historian charles william previté-orton called story absurd . in cathedral of susa, in niche in wall, there statue of walnut wood, beneath bronze veneer, representing adelaide, genuflecting in prayer. above can read inscription: questa è adelaide, cui l istessa roma cole, e primo d ausonia onor la noma.