Tenure 996–1000 Father Conrad of Burgundy | Name Bertha Burgundy | |
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Died January 16, 1010, Valperga, Italy Children Odo II, Count of Blois, Theobald II of Blois Parents Matilda of France, Conrad I of Burgundy Grandchildren Theobald III, Count of Blois Similar People Robert II of France, Constance of Arles, Adelaide of Aquitaine, Gerberga of Saxony, Henry I of France | ||
Bertha of Burgundy (964 – 16 January 1010) was the daughter of Conrad the Peaceful, King of Burgundy and his wife Matilda, daughter of Louis IV, King of France and Gerberga of Saxony. She was named for her father's mother, Bertha of Swabia.
She first married Odo I, Count of Blois in about 983. They had several children, including Odo II.
After the death of her husband in 996, Bertha's second cousin Robert, co-King of France wished to marry her, in place of his repudiated first wife Rozala, who was many years his senior. The union was opposed by Robert's father, Hugh Capet, due to the potential political problem that could be caused by religious authorities due to their consanguinity. However, the marriage went ahead after Hugh's death in October 996, which left Robert as sole king.
The closeness of Robert and Bertha by blood was such that Church authorities considered the marriage illegal since they had not received a dispensation, nor had they requested one. Accordingly, Pope Gregory V declared the pair excommunicated. This, and the lack of children (save one, who lived and died in 999), caused Robert to agree with Pope Silvester II to have the marriage annulled in 1000.
Robert next married Constance of Arles while Bertha may have been the Bertha who married Arduin of Ivrea (Arduino d´Ivrea), King of Italy, Marquis of Ivrea.