Gisela of Swabia

Gisela of Swabia
Depiction in the Babenberg family tree at Klosterneuburg Monastery, c. 1490
Empress consort of the Holy Roman Empire
Reign	1027–1039
Coronation	26 March 1027 St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
Queen consort of Germany
Reign	1024–1039
Coronation	21 September 1024 Cologne Cathedral
Born	11 November 990
Died	14 February 1043 Imperial Palace of Goslar, Saxony
Burial	Speyer Cathedral
Spouse	Brun I, Count of Brunswick Ernest I, Duke of Swabia Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
Issue more...	Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia Ernest II, Duke of Swabia Herman IV, Duke of Swabia Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor Matilda of Franconia
House	Conradines
Father	Herman II, Duke of Swabia
Mother	Gerberga of Burgundy

Gisela of Swabia (11 November 990 – 14 February 1043), a member of the Conradiner dynasty, was Queen consort of Germany from 1024 to 1039 and Empress consort of the Holy Roman Empire from 1027 to 1039 by her third marriage with Emperor Conrad II. She was the mother of Emperor Henry III. She was regent of Swavia for her minor son Duke Ernest II of Swabia in 1015.

Life

Conrad and Gisela kneeling before Christ in Majesty, Codex Aureus Escorialensis, c. 1045.

Gisela was the daughter of Duke Herman II of Swabia and Gerberga of Burgundy, daughter of King Conrad the Peaceful. Both her parents were descendants of Charlemagne.^[1]

She first married the Saxon count Brun I of Brunswick, about 1002. Upon Brun's death, her second marriage was ca. 1012 with the Babenberg scion Ernest, who had been enfeoffed with the Duchy of Swabia by King Henry II at the death of Gisela's brother, Duke Herman III and aimed at legitimising himself as his heir. After Ernest's early death in 1015, Gisela became regent for their minor son Duke Ernest II of Swabia (Herzog Ernst). She was then removed from the regency by her third husband on grounds of her being too closely related to the late Babenberg duke, an incident which later led to a major conflict between Ernest II and his stepfather.

Her third marriage, who took place before January 1017, was to Conrad II, who was elected King of the Romans in 1024 and became Holy Roman Emperor in 1027. According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Archbishop Aribo of Mainz refused to crown her Queen of Germany, as he stated Gisela and Conrad were too closely related. Nevertheless, thirteen days after his coronation, Archbishop Pilgrim of Cologne crowned her instead.^[2]

Gisela played an active part in politics, attending Imperial councils and having her uncle King Rudolph III of Burgundy transfer the succession of his Arelat realm to her husband Conrad. Also, she participated in several synods of the church. She took care of her sister Matilda's daughters Sophie and Beatrice,^[3] who would both go on to play political roles as Countess of Bar and regent in the Italian March of Tuscany respectively. After Conrad's death in 1039, she and her son Henry III led the mourning progression.^[4]

The empress died of dysentery at the Imperial Palace of Goslar in 1043. She is interred in the grotto of Speyer Cathedral, 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 Brun I, Count of Brunswick had:

• Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia (c. 1003 – 24 January 1038)
• Daughter (c. 1004 – ?), married Count Thiemo II of Formbach
• Gisela (c. 1005 – c. 1052), married Count Berthold of Sangerhausen

Gisela and Ernest I, Duke of Swabia had:

• Ernest II, Duke of Swabia (c. 1013 – 17 August 1030)
• Herman IV, Duke of Swabia (c. 1015 – 28 July 1038)

Gisela and Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor had:

• Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (28 October 1017 – 5 October 1056)
• Matilda (1027 – January 1034), betrothed to Henry I of France
• Beatrix (c. 1030 – 26 September 1036)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Gisela of Swabia

4. Conrad I, Duke of Swabia                             2. Herman II, Duke of Swabia                                   20. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor               10. Liudolf, Duke of Swabia                       21. Eadgyth of England               5. Richlind of Saxony (hypothetical)                             22. Herman I, Duke of Swabia               11. Ida of Swabia                       23. Regelinda of Zürich (=#27)               1. Gisela of Swabia                                         24. Rudolph I of Burgundy               12. Rudolph II of Burgundy                       25. Guilla of Provence               6. Conrad of Burgundy                             26. Burchard II, Duke of Swabia               13. Bertha of Swabia                       27. Regelinda of Zürich (=#23)               3. Gerberga of Burgundy                                   28. Charles the Simple               14. Louis IV of France                       29. Eadgifu of England               7. Matilda of France                             30. Henry the Fowler               15. Gerberga of Saxony                       31. Matilda

Notes

1. Wolfram and Kaiser. p. 32. Missing or empty |title= (help)
2. Wolfram and Kaiser. p. 159. Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. Kagay and Villalon. p. 358. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. Wolfram and Kaiser. p. 346. Missing or empty |title= (help)

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