Gerhard I. (Vaudémont)

Gerhard von Alsace (* around 1057, † 1108 ) was the first Count of Vaudémont from 1070 . He was the second son of Duke Gerhard of Lothringen .

After the death of his father in 1070, he claimed part of the inheritance for himself, and devastated the southern part of Lorraine to reinforce his claim. Duke Dietrich II , his brother, was so involved in his disputes over the succession with Ludwig , Count von Mömpelgard and Bar that he left him the Saintois , the pagus around Vaudémont ; Emperor Heinrich IV granted him the title of count. From this point on he worked closely with his brother and fulfilled the task of securing the southern border of the duchy.

A few centuries later, Jean de Bayon reports that Gerhard was captured during the fight against the Duke of Burgundy around 1080, but he is the only one who mentions this point. In fact, during this period, the sovereignty of Charmes and Ramberailles changed from the Count of Vaudémont to the Duke of Burgundy, which gives Bayon's report some credibility.

Gerhard is mentioned in many monastic documents, as a signatory or a witness, with the exception of the period between 1097 and 1101 - the time of the First Crusade , which in turn suggests that he participated in it, even if no chronicler mentions participation.

Around 1080 he married Hedwig (Helwidis) von Egisheim († around 1126), daughter of Gerhard II, Count of Egisheim and Dagsburg . Your children were:

• Hugo I († 1155)
• Gisela (1090 † 1141), ∞ I Renard III. Count of Toul ; ∞ II Rainald I († 1149), Count von Bar ( House of Scarponnois )
• Stephanie († 1160/88), ∞ Friedrich I († 1160), Count von Pfirt ( House of Scarponnois )
• Judith († around 1163), abbess of Remiremont , then abbess of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains in Metz

literature

• Michel François: Histoire des comtes et du comté de Vaudémont des origines à 1473. Humblot, Nancy 1935.