Ermengarde of Burgundy

Ermengarde (also Hermengarde, Ermengarda, Irmengarde, Irainsanda, Eimildis) (– after 20 September 1057) was a medieval noblewoman. Through her first marriage, to Rotbold II, Count of Provence, she was countess of Provence, and from 1011 to 1032 Ermengarde was the last queen of independent Burgundy by virtue of her second marriage to Rudolf III of Burgundy. Life Ermengarde's origins are obscure, and the identity of her relatives is unknown. Several scholars have, however, suggested that Ermengarde was related to Humbert I of Savoy. In the nineteenth century, several scholars hypothesised that Ermengarde's first husband was Manasses, count of Savoy, with whom she had a son, Humbert of Savoy. Laurent Ripart, by contrast, suggests that Ermengarde may have been the sister of Humbert of Savoy, who was part of the entourage of Rudolf III of Burgundy. Alternatively, François Demotz argues that Ermengarde was a member of the Sigiboldides (or Siboldi) dynasty, who were also part of Rudolf III's entourage. Countess of Provence Ermengarde married Rotbald II of Provence before 1002, when they made a donation to Montmajour Abbey. The couple is mentioned in the Carta liberalis in 1005. Also in 1005, they were present for the election of the new abbot at the Abbey of St Victor, Marseille, alongside Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou and her sons William III Taillefer, Count of Toulouse, and William II, Count of Provence. With Rotbald, Ermengarde had two sons and a daughter: Hugh, bishop of Lausanne (r. 1018–1037). William III of Provence Emma, who married William III Taillefer, Count of Toulouse, and thus brought the margravial title in Provence to the House of Rouergue.