Adalbert II "the Rich", margrave of Tuscany

- http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/adalberto-di-toscana_%28Diziona... - è documentato quale marchese di Toscana dall'884 al 915.

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adalbert_II,_Margrave_of_Tuscany (c.875–915)

- http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORTHERN%20ITALY%20900-1100.htm#Ada...

1. ADALBERTO (-[10/19] Sep 915, bur Lucca Cathedral). His parentage is indicated by the charter dated 27 May 889 under which "Vuido…rex" donated property to the bishop of Fiesole at the request of [her son] "Adalbertus…nepos noster et marchio"[719]. The Gesta regum Francorum confirms that he was the brother of Bonifazio when it names "Adalbertus fraterque eius Bonifacius, Hildibrandus quoque et Gerhardus" as the "primores itaque marchenses qui fuerunt Italici regis" in 894[720]. He succeeded his father in [884/89] as ADALBERTO II Conte e Duca di Lucca Marchese of Tuscany. He supported Guido Duke of Spoleto after his coronation as King of Italy in 889, recognised Emperor Lambert, but subsequently supported Berengario Marchese di Friulia. "Vuido…imperator augustus" confirmed donations "in comitatu Florentino" at the request of "Adalbertus…nepos noster et marchio" by charter dated 24 Nov 891[721]. The Gesta regum Francorum names "Adalbertus fraterque eius Bonifacius, Hildibrandus quoque et Gerhardus" as the "primores itaque marchenses qui fuerunt Italici regis" in 894[722]. The Annales Fuldenses record the same names in 894[723]. He helped Louis King of Provence in his election as emperor[724]. The epitaph of "Adelberti ducis" records his death "Kal Sep"[725].

m ( [895/98] ) as her second husband, BERTA of Lotharingia, widow of THEOTBALD [Thibaut] Comte d’Arles, illegitimate daughter of LOTHAIRE II King of Lotharingia & his mistress Waldrada --- ([863]-8 Mar 925, bur Lucca, Santa Maria). "Hugo comes et marchio" names "patris mei Teutbaldi et matris meæ Berthe…" in a donation by charter dated 924[726]. "Berte" is also named as mother of "Hugo rex" in the latter's donation to Cluny for the souls of his parents dated 8 Mar 934[727]. Her parentage and first marriage are confirmed by the Annales Bertiniani which name "Hugonem Lotharii iunioris filium" and “sororium illius Theutbaldum” in 880[728]. Her origin and second marriage are confirmed by the epitaph of "Comitissæ…Bertha" specifies that she was "uxor Adalberti Ducis Italiæ…regalis generi…filia Lotharii" and records her death in 925[729]. Liudprand provides the proof that Berta, who married Marchese Adalberto, was the widow of Theotbald when he names "Berta matre regis Hugonis", specifying that she was previously married to Adalberto, when recording her death[730]. She was regent of Tuscany after the death of her second husband in 915.

 Adalberto & his wife had three children: 

Adalbert II (c. 875–915[1]), called the Rich, son and successor of Adalbert I of Tuscany, and grandson of Boniface II, was much concerned in the troubles of Lombardy, at a time when so many princes were contending for the wrecks of the Carolingian Empire.[2] Before his father died in 884 or 886, he is accredited the title of "count". He inherited from his father the titles of count and duke of Lucca and margrave of Tuscany.

Between 895 and 898, he married Bertha (c.863–8 March 925), the daughter of the Lothair II of Lotharingia and widow of the Count Theobald of Arles. Adalbert and Bertha had at least three children:

Guy, successor as count and duke of Lucca and margrave of Tuscany

Lambert, successor of his brother as count and duke of Lucca and margrave of Tuscany

Ermengard (died 29 February 932), married 915 Adalbert I of Ivrea

Adalbert II died on 10 or 15 September 915 and was buried in the cathedral of Lucca. His widow Bertha took over the regency for their young son Guy.

[edit]References

^ Wickham, Chris (1990). Early Medieval Italy: Central Power and Local Society 400-1000. University of Michigan Press, 59-60. ISBN 0-472-08099-7.

^ Rose, Hugh James [1853] (1857). A New General Biographical Dictionary, London: B. Fellowes et al.

"Este, one of the oldest of the former reigning houses of Italy. It is in all probability of Lombard origin, and descended, according to Muratori, from the princes who governed in Tuscany in Carolingian times." - Encycl. Brit., 56, 8:731. {Abalberto II & the next generations did not formally become marquises (margraves) until this title was acquired by Alberto Azzo II (who died ca. 1097) (he m. Kunitza or Cunegunda, sister of Welf III, Duke of Carinthia, and (2) Gersende, dau. of Herbert I, Count of Maine).

References: [PlantagenetA]