Rozala of Italy
Rozala of Italy (also known as Rozala of Lombardy, Rozala of Ivrea or Susanna of Ivrea; c. 950–960 –1003) was, by her successive marriages, countess of Flanders and queen of the Franks. She was regent of Flanders in 987-988 during the minority of her son.
| Rozala of Italy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Countess consort of Flanders | |
| Tenure | 968–987 |
| Queen consort of France | |
| Tenure | 996 |
| Born | c. 950–960 |
| Died | 1003 Ghent |
| Spouse | Arnulf II of Flanders Robert II of France |
| Issue | Baldwin IV of Flanders Mathilda |
| House | Ivrea |
| Father | Berengar II of Italy |
| Mother | Willa of Tuscany |
Biography
Rozala (Susanna), born sometime between 950 and 960, was the daughter of King Berengar of Ivrea, King of Italy (c. 900 – 966).[1] Her mother was Willa of Tuscany, the daughter of Boso, Margrave of Tuscany and his wife Willa.[2] In 976 she married Arnulf II, Count of Flanders (d. 987).[3] On her husband's death, she acted as regent for her young son.
On c. 1 April 988 she married secondly the much younger Robert the Pious (972–1031), the Rex Filius of France; the marriage had been arranged by his father Hugh Capet.[4][3] According to disputed account she brought her husband Montreuil[3] and Ponthieu as a dowry, others assert that she was bequeathed her right to that territory. Upon her marriage, she took the name of Susannah, and was the queen consort of the co-ruling king Robert, under senior King Hugh. From 991/992 the couple lived basically separated as Rozala had become too old[3] (c. 38) to have more children and they lacked marital happiness.
When her father-in-law died in 996, however, Robert repudiated her completely, desiring to marry Bertha of Burgundy in her place.[5] That marriage was not lawful because of too close kinship so Robert married a third time 1003 with Constance of Arles who bore him seven children.
Rozala retired back to Flanders, where she died and was buried. Robert retained control of her "dowry",[3] or the rights to the mentioned territory.
Marriages
Rozala was firstly (976–987) married to Arnulf II, Count of Flanders.[6] They had the following children:
- Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders (980–1035)[6]
- Mathilda (d. 995).[1]
The second marriage (988–996) with Robert II of France did not produce any children.[3]
Notes
- Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 5
- Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 59
- Vasiliev 1951, p. 233-234.
- Poppe 1976, p. 232.
- Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 11
- Nicholas 1992, p. 44.
References
- Nicholas, David (1992). Medieval Flanders. Longman.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Poppe, Andrzej (1976). "The Political Background to the Baptism of Rus': Byzantine-Russian Relations between 986-89". Dumbarton Oaks Papers. 30: 195. doi:10.2307/1291395. JSTOR 1291395.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Vasiliev, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich (1951). "Hugh Capet of France and Byzantium". Dumbarton Oaks Papers. 6: 227. doi:10.2307/1291087. JSTOR 1291087.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
| Vacant Title last held by Adelaide of Aquitaine |
Queen consort of the Franks 996 |
Succeeded by Bertha of Burgundy |