Name Gertrude Brunswick | ||
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Died December 9, 1117, Emden, Germany Spouse Henry, Margrave of Frisia (m. 1086), Count Dietrich II of Katlenburg, Henry I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark Children Richenza of Northeim, Dietrich III of Katlenburg, Henry II, Margrave of Meissen, Otto III of Northeim Parents Immilla of Turin, Egbert I, Margrave of Meissen, Irmgard of Susa Grandchildren Gertrude of Supplingenburg Grandparents Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia, Ulric Manfred II of Turin, Bertha, daughter of Oberto II, Gertrud, wife of Liudolf of Frisia | ||
Gertrud of Brunswick (German: Gertrud von Braunschweig; c. 1060 – 9 December 1117), was Countess of Katlenburg by marriage to Dietrich II, Count of Katlenburg, Margravine of Frisia by marriage to Henry, Margrave of Frisia, and Margravine of Meissen by marriage to margrave Henry I. She served as regent of the County of Katlenburg during the minority of her son Dietrich III of Katlenburg, and as regent of the County of Northeim during the minority of her son Otto III of Northeim. She was also one of the leaders of the insurrections against Emperor Henry IV and his son Henry V.
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Life
Gertrud was the only daughter of Margrave Egbert I of Meissen (d. 1068) and Immilla of Turin (d. 1078), and as such a member of the Brunonid dynasty. She thereby was a great-granddaughter of Gisela of Swabia, German queen and empress consort from 1024 to 1043.
Katlenburg
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.
Frisia
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.
Meissen
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.