Emma of Italy
Emma of Italy (* 948 ; † October 12, 988) was Queen of West Franconia and stepdaughter of the East Franconian Emperor Otto I.
Life
Emma was born the daughter of King Lothar II of Italy and Adelheid of Burgundy . Her father was poisoned in 950 when she was a young child.
In early 966 she was married to the French King Lothar . The marriage resulted in two children: the later King Ludwig V and Otto († November 18, probably before 986), Canon of Reims .
In 977, her brother-in-law Karl , Duke of Lower Lorraine , accused her of adultery with Ascelin , the bishop of Laon . At the Synod of Sainte-Macre, chaired by the Archbishop of Reims , Adalberon , Emma and the bishop were acquitted and Duke Charles had to leave France. In order to secure the claims of her son Ludwig, Emma persuaded her husband to crown him as co-regent.
The marriage between Emma and Lothar was overshadowed by quarrels and intrigues between Lothar and his brother-in-law, Emperor Otto II , which were partly fueled by Karl of Lower Lorraine, a vassal of Otto.
Lothar died in 986 and his son Ludwig succeeded him as French king. However, the king banished his mother and the bishop of Laon from court and accused them of poisoning Lothar. A year later, King Ludwig died without an heir.
Emma probably spent the last years of her life in a monastery in Burgundy , where she also died.
see also: Theories on the origin of Emma of Bohemia
| predecessor | Office | Successor |
|---|---|---|
| Gerberga |
Queen of West Franconia 966–986 |
Adelheid of Aquitaine |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Emma of Italy |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | West Franconian Queen |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 948 |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 12 after 988 |