Ermentrude of Orléans

Ermentrude of Orléans
Queen of the West Franks
Statue of Ermentrude in her tomb
Queen of the West Franks
Reign	13 December 842 – 6 October 869
Born	27 September 823
Died	6 October 869 (aged 46)
Burial	Saint Denis Basilica, Paris, France
Spouse	Charles the Bald
Dynasty	Carolingian Udalriching
Father	Odo, Count of Orléans
Mother	Engeltrude of Paris

Ermentrude of Orléans (27 September 823 – 6 October 869) was Queen of the Franks by her marriage to Charles the Bald, Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia. She was the daughter of Odo, Count of Orléans and his wife Engeltrude.

She and Charles married in 842. Their children were:

• Judith of Flanders, wife of Æthelwulf of Wessex, Æthelbald of Wessex, and Baldwin I, Count of Flanders
• Louis the Stammerer (846–879)
• Charles the Child (847–866)
• Lothar (848–865), monk in 861, became Abbot of Saint-Germain
• Carloman, son of Charles the Bald (849–876)
• Rotrud (852–912), a nun
• Ermentrud (854–877), a nun
• Hildegard (born 856, died ?)
• Gisela (857–874)
• Godehilde (864-907)

Ermentrude had a gift for embroidery and an interest in religious foundations. Her husband gave her the Abbey of Chelles. She separated from her husband after he executed her rebellious brother William in 866, and retreated to life in a nunnery. Ermentrude was buried in the Basilique Saint-Denis, Paris, France.

References

Dutton, P E, Charlemagne's Mustache Riche, Pierre, The Carolingians