Adelaide of Susa
| Adelaide of Susa | |
|---|---|
Adelaide of Susa
|
|
| Spouse(s) |
Herman IV, Duke of Swabia Henry of Montferrat Otto of Savoy |
| Noble family | Arduinici |
| Father | Ulric Manfred II of Turin |
| Mother | Bertha of Milan |
| Born |
c. 1014/1020 Turin |
| Died | 19 December 1091 |
| Buried | Parochial church of Canischio (uncertain) |
Adelaide of Susa or Adelaide of Turin (also Adelheid, Adelais, or Adeline; c. 1014/1020 – 19 December 1091) was the Marchioness of Turin from 1034 to her death. She was the last of the Arduinici.
Born in Turin to Ulric Manfred II and Bertha around 1014/1020, Adelaide's early life is not well known. Adelaide had two younger sisters, Immilla and Bertha. She may also have had a brother, whose name is not known, who predeceased her father. Thus, on Ulric Manfred's death (in December 1033 or 1034), the great margraviate was divided between his three daughters, though the greatest part by far went to Adelaide. She received the property in the counties of Turin, especially in the Susa Valley, Auriate, and Asti. Adelaide also inherited property, but probably not comital authority, in Albenga, Alba, Bredulo and Ventimiglia. It is likely that Adelaide's mother, Bertha, briefly acted as regent for Adelaide after Ulric Manfred's death.
Since the margravial title primarily had a military purpose at the time, it was thus was not considered suitable for a woman. Emperor Conrad II therefore arranged a marriage between Adelaide and his stepson, Herman IV, in January 1037. Herman was then invested as margrave of Turin. Herman died of the plague while fighting for Conrad II at Naples in July 1038.
Adelaide remarried in order to secure her vast march. Probably in 1041, and certainly before 19 January 1042, Adelaide married Henry, Marquess of Montferrat. Henry died c.1045 and left Adelaide a widow for the second time. Immediately, a third marriage was undertaken, this time to Otto of Savoy (1046). With Otto she had three sons, Peter I, Amadeus II, and Otto. The couple also had two daughters, Bertha, who married Henry IV of Germany, and Adelaide, who married Rudolf of Rheinfelden (who later opposed Henry as King of Germany).
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