Gisela of Swabia

Gisela

Gisela of Swabia (989 or 990 – February 14, 1043 in Goslar) was the daughter of Herman II of Swabia and Gerberga of Burgundy. Both her parents were descendents of Charlemagne.^[1]

Life

She first married Bruno I, Count of Brunswick, in 1002. Her second marriage was to Ernest I, Duke of Swabia, who inherited Swabia through her at the death of Gisela's brother, Herman III. After his death in 1015, she became regent for their son Ernest II. She was then removed from the regency on grounds of her being too closely related to her late husband.

Her third marriage, in 1016 or 1017, was to Conrad, who became Emperor in 1027. Aribo, Archbishop of Mainz refused to crown her, because he stated Gisela and Conrad were too closely related. Thirteen days after his coronation, Pilgrim, Archbishop of Cologne crowned her Empress of Germany instead.^[2]

She played an active part in politics, attending imperial councils and having her relative Rudolph III of Burgundy transfer the succession of his realm to her husband. Also, she participated in several synods of the church.

She took care of her sister Matilda's daughters Sophie, Countess of Bar and Beatrice of Bar,^[3] who would both go on to play political roles as Countess of Bar and regent of Tuscany respectively.

After Conrad's death in 1038, she and her son Henry led the mourning progression.^[4]

Gisela died of dysentery in the royal palace in Goslar in 1043. She is interred in the grotto of the Imperial Cathedral of Speyer, Germany along with several emperors and other members of the imperial family. Her tomb was opened in 1900 and Gisela's mummified body was found to be 172 cm (5' 8") tall, with long blond hair.

Children

Gisela and Bruno I, Count of Brunswick had:

• Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia (c. 1003–1038)
• and one other son and two daughters

Gisela and Ernest I, Duke of Swabia were parents to two sons:

• Ernest II, Duke of Swabia (c. 1010 – August 17, 1030)
• Herman IV, Duke of Swabia (c. 1015 – July 28, 1038)

Gisela and Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor were parents to three children:

• Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (October 29, 1017 – October 5, 1056)
• Matilda (1027 – January, 1034), betrothed to Henry I of France
• Beatrix (c. 1030 – September 26, 1036)

Ancestry

Notes

References

• Kagay and Villalon (2003). Crusaders, Condottieri, and Cannon: Medieval Warfare in Societies around the Mediterranean. Koninklijke Brill NV. 
• Wolfram and Kaiser (2006). Conrad II, 990-1039: Emperor of Three Kingdoms. The Pennsylvania State University Press. 
• "Women in power 1000-1100" from Guide2womenleaders.com, last accessed January 15, 2007

• Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon, Appelhans 2006, ISBN 3-937664-46-7