Tedald of Canossa

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Tedald (died 1012), of the House of Canossa, was the count of Brescia from 980, Modena, Ferrara, and Reggio from 981, and Mantua from 1006. He used the title of margrave because of his vast comital holdings and their frontier nature. His family's seat was Canossa and he was the son of Adalbert Azzo of Canossa who had supported Otto I against Berengar of Ivrea and Adalbert of Ivrea. His rise was largely due to his loyalty to the Ottonian Dynasty.

He opposed his fellow Margrave Arduin of Ivrea in his bid for the Italian crown in 1002. He accompanied the Emperor Henry II on his campaign to Italy in 1004 and was present at Henry royal coronation in Pavia on May 15. He received Ferrara from the pope. He ensured that his entire patrimony passed to his son Boniface. His second son, Tedald, became Bishop of Arezzo in 1023 and sponsored Guido of Arezzo.

Tedald married Willa daughter of Hubert of Spoleto, natural son of Hugh of Italy.

Sources

Gwatkin, H.M., Whitney, J.P. (ed) et al. The Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III. Cambridge University Press, 1926.

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

b) TEDALDO (-8 May [1012], bur Canossa). The Alberti Milioli Notarii Regini Liber de Temporibus names "Tedaldum marchionum…Gottifredus…Rodulfus" as the three sons of "comes Atto" & his wife[125]. Referred to as Count in Dec 975. Marchese. Conte di Reggio. "Teudaldus Marchio et Comes…Comitatu Regensis Comitatus" passed judgment in a property dispute, in the presence of "Bonefacius filio eidem Teudaldi Marchio…", by charter dated 30 Sep 1001[126]. After the death of Emperor Otto III in 1002, Marchese Tedaldo did not support Ardoino Marchese d'Ivrea who had himself crowned king of Italy. After the latter was defeated by Emperor Heinrich II in 1004, Marchese Tedaldo swore allegiance to the emperor at Bergamo. He acquired Ferrara, and founded the abbey of San Benedetto in Jun 1007 after the death of his wife[127]. The Alberti Milioli Notarii Regini Liber de Temporibus records the death "VIII Id Mai" of "Tedaldus marchio" and his burial "in arce Canusina"[128].

m GUILLIA [Willa], daughter of [129][TEUBALDO Marchese and Duke of Spoleto & his wife ---] (-30 Aug before 1007, bur Florence[130]). She is shown in Europäische Stammtafeln[131] as the possible daughter of Duke Teobaldo but the primary source which confirms her parentage has not yet been identified. The Alberti Milioli Notarii Regini Liber de Temporibus names "comitissa Giuliam" as wife of "dux et marchio Tedaldus" and her death "penultime die Aug"[132]. The Poema de Vita Comitissæ Mathildis names "Guillia dicta Ducatrix" as the wife of "Tedaldi"[133], and it is supposed that the speculation concerning her Spoletan origin is based on this source.

  Tedaldo & his wife had three children: 

Tedald (died 1012), of the House of Canossa, was the count of Brescia from 980, Modena, Ferrara, and Reggio from 981, and Mantua from 1006. He used the title of margrave because of his vast comital holdings and their frontier nature. His family's seat was Canossa and he was the son of Adalbert Azzo of Canossa who had supported Otto I against Berengar of Ivrea and Adalbert of Ivrea. His rise was largely due to his loyalty to the Ottonian Dynasty. He opposed his fellow Margrave Arduin of Ivrea in his bid for the Italian crown in 1002. He accompanied the Emperor Henry II on his campaign to Italy in 1004 and was present at Henry royal coronation in Pavia on May 15. He received Ferrara from the pope. He ensured that his entire patrimony passed to his son Boniface. His second son, Tedald, became Bishop of Arezzo in 1023 and sponsored Guido of Arezzo. Tedald married Willa daughter of Hubert of Spoleto, natural son of Hugh of Italy.

The Canossa are a powerful feudal family of Lombard origin, which from the first decades of the tenth century , settled in the valleys of the Apennines reggiano . The importance of family is closely related to the position of the territory of which they were the lords, because throughout the twelfth century they fought the protagonists of the investiture controversy : the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire . At the time of maximum expansion around 1100 , the possessions of Canossa extend from Lake Garda in northern Lazio , including the cities of Mantua , Modena , Ferrara , Florence and Perugia . The province of Reggio Emilia was the heart of the military and political power of Canossa. In little more than a century, they built defensive strongholds on the lines of communication that passes from the Apennines, down to the Po , and managing to control most of the trade between Europe Central and Italy as well as those who from the via Aemilia joined the Adriatic . It is this clever strategy which enabled the home of Canossa to consolidate and increase its wealth.