Gertrude of Brunswick

Gertrude of Brunswick
Margravine of Meissen
Spouse(s) Dietrich II, Count of Katlenburg
Henry, Margrave of Frisia
Henry I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark

Issue

Dietrich III of Katlenburg
Richenza of Northeim
Otto III of Northeim
Henry II, Margrave of Meissen
Noble family Brunonids (by birth)
House of Nordheim (by marriage)
House of Wettin (by marriage)
Father Egbert I, Margrave of Meissen
Mother Immilla of Turin
Born c. 1060
Brunswick
Died 9 December 1117 (aged 5657)
Buried Brunswick Cathedral

Gertrud of Brunswick (German: Gertrud von Braunschweig; c.1060 – 9 December 1117), a member of the Brunonid dynasty, was Margravine of Meissen from 1102 to 1103 by her marriage with the Wettin margrave Henry I.

Life

Gertrud was the only daughter of Margrave Egbert I of Meissen (d. 1068) and his wife Immilla (d. 1078), daughter of Count Ulric Manfred II of Turin. She thereby was a great-granddaughter of Gisela of Swabia, German queen and empress consort from 1024 to 1043.

She was married to Count Dietrich II of Katlenburg (d. 1085). In 1090, after the childless death of her older brother Margrave Egbert II of Meissen, last of the male Brunonids, she inherited the ancestral seat of Brunswick in Saxony. When her husband died, she acted as regent for their son Dietrich III.

About 1086, Gertrude married again, this time to the Northeim count Henry the Fat (d. 1101), who was appointed Margrave of Frisia in 1099. Their daughter Richenza of Northeim (d. 1142) married Lothar of Süpplingenburg, Duke of Saxony and future Holy Roman Emperor. He received the Brunonen's seat at Brunswick. After Henry's death in 1101, Gertrud again acted as regent, this time for her second son Count Otto III of Northeim.

Tomb at Brunswick Cathedral

Gertrud's third husband was the Wettin scion Henry I of Eilenburg (d. 1103), Margrave of Margraviate of Meissen since 1089. Their son, Henry II was born after his death in 1103. She was one of the leaders of the insurrections against Emperor Henry IV and his son Henry V. She protected the interests of her sons and Margrave Henry II later secured the Wettin authority over Meissen.

References

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