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Gersende du Maine

French: Gersende Comte de Blois-Champagne (du Maine)
Also Known As: "Gersende Berthe du Maine", "Countess of Champagne"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Le Mans, Sarthe, Maine, France
Death: May 10, 1100 (65-74)
Immediate Family:

Daughter of Heribert I "Éveille-chien" du Maine, comte du maine and Paule de Preuilly
Wife of Alberto Azzo II, margrave of Milan & 1st of Este
Ex-wife of Thibaut, Count of Blois & Champagne
Ex-partner of Geoffroy II, seigneur de Mayenne
Mother of Étienne Henri 'Stephen' II, Count of Blois, of Champagne and of Meaux; Magdalena Cecily Fitznigel; Bules Count of Blois and Chartres; Sir Gilbert De Venables, I; Fulco d'Este, I and 1 other
Sister of Hugues IV, comte du Maine; Biota du Maine and Paula of Maine

Occupation: margravine de Milan, héritière du Maine
Managed by: Pam Wilson (on hiatus)
Last Updated:

About Gersende du Maine

- https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gersenda_del_Maine

- http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MAINE.htm#GersendeM1ThibautIIIBlois...

GERSENDE du Maine ([1025/35]-). The Actus pontificum Cenomannis records that "Atho marchisius" left Maine in the hands of "Gaufridi de Meduana", also naming "uxor eiusdem marchisii Garcendis…filia Herberti Cenomannorum…comitis…Evigila Canem" and specifying that she had married firstly "Theobaldo duci Campanie" and that he had repudiated her[117]. The same source comments that "Gaufredi de Meduana" was "tutor et quasi maritus", implying that Gersende was his mistress. Guillaume de Poitou records that "Galterium Medantinum comitem" married "soror Hugonis"[118]. Her second marriage is also mentioned by Orderic Vitalis who incorrectly says that she was the daughter of Comte Hugues [IV][119], which would be difficult to sustain chronologically.

  • m firstly (repudiated 1048) as his first wife, THIBAUT III Comte de Blois, son of EUDES II Comte de Blois & his second wife Ermengarde d'Auvergne ([1010]-29/30 Sep 1089, bur Epernay).
  • m secondly ([1049/51]%29 as his second wife, ALBERTO AZZO [II] d'Este, son of ALBERTO AZZO [I] d'Este & his first wife Valdriada Candriada ([996]-Vangadizza monastery 1097). Comte du Maine [1069/70].
  • Mistress of: ([1070/71]%29 GEOFFROY de Mayenne, son of HAYMON & his wife --- (-[May/Dec] 1098).

Gersende du Maine & her second husband had two children:

a) UGO d'Este (-1131). His parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis, who states that he was younger than his brother Falco[120]. He succeeded in 1070 as Comte du Maine. "Heinricus…rex" confirmed "nostri dilecti cancellarii Ugoni et Fulconi germanis Azonis marchionis filiis" in all their possessions "in comitatu Gauolli, Rodigum, Cederniano, Sarzano, Maretiniago…in comitatu [Pata]uiensi Este" by undated charter placed in the compilation with other charters dated 1077[121]. He and his brother made no attempt to claim their inheritance but in 1090 were contacted in Italy by the men of Maine who had rebelled against the Normans. Ugo/Hugues arrived in Maine and was helped by Geoffrey de Mayenne to recover his maternal inheritance. According to Orderic Vitalis, when "the men of Maine discovered that their new count had neither riches nor judgment and courage to commend him, the hotheads began to regret their action"[122]. He betrayed Matilda Ctss of Tuscany (married to his half-brother's son) in early 1091, frustrating her plan to capture Emperor Heinrich IV during the latter's journey to Italy[123]. Orderic Vitalis records that Ugo/Hugues sold the county of Maine to his cousin, Hélie de la Flèche in [1093] for 10,000 shilllings[124]. The dating clause of a charter dated to [1093], which records a dispute between "Herbertus [de Wirchia]" and the church of Saint-Vincent du Mans, refers to the year in which "Longobardus…Helie comiti" sold "Cenomannicum comitatum"[125]. m (1078, repudiated) [ERIA] of Apulia, daughter of ROBERT "Guiscard/Weasel" Duke of Apulia & his second wife Sichelgaita di Salerno. Orderic Vitalis states that the wife of Ugo was daughter of Robert Guiscard (without naming her) and that he repudiated her "without cause" for which he was excommunicated by Pope Urban[126]. Her father's insistance that his principal vassals meet the cost of her wedding caused considerable resentment, triggering the revolt against Robert Guiscard in autumn 1078. Amatus records the marriage of Duke Robert's (unnamed) daughter, endowed "with a very fine dowry", and the (unnamed) son of Marquis Azzo[127]. The primary source which confirms her name has not yet been identified.

b) other child: see ESTE.

--------------------------------

Gersende du Maine fut répudiée par son époux (Thibaut III de Blois) en 1048.



Marriage to Theobald III - http://www.geneajourney.com/blois.html


From Geni profile ...

- Added by:  Bjørn P. Brox on May 8, 2007  
- Managed by:  Nancy Sawalich and 78 others  
- Curated by:  Pam Wilson   http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MAINE.htm#GersendeM1ThibautIIIBlois...

GERSENDE du Maine ([1025/35]-). The Actus pontificum Cenomannis records that "Atho marchisius" left Maine in the hands of "Gaufridi de Meduana", also naming "uxor eiusdem marchisii Garcendis…filia Herberti Cenomannorum…comitis…Evigila Canem" and specifying that she had married firstly "Theobaldo duci Campanie" and that he had repudiated her[117]. The same source comments that "Gaufredi de Meduana" was "tutor et quasi maritus", implying that Gersende was his mistress. Guillaume de Poitou records that "Galterium Medantinum comitem" married "soror Hugonis"[118]. Her second marriage is also mentioned by Orderic Vitalis who incorrectly says that she was the daughter of Comte Hugues [IV][119], which would be difficult to sustain chronologically. •m firstly (repudiated 1048) as his first wife, THIBAUT III Comte de Blois, son of EUDES II Comte de Blois & his second wife Ermengarde d'Auvergne ([1010]-29/30 Sep 1089, bur Epernay). •m secondly ([1049/51]%29 as his second wife, ALBERTO AZZO [II] d'Este, son of ALBERTO AZZO [I] d'Este & his first wife Valdriada Candriada ([996]-Vangadizza monastery 1097). Comte du Maine [1069/70]. •Mistress of: ([1070/71]) GEOFFROY de Mayenne, son of HAYMON & his wife --- (-[May/Dec] 1098).

Gersende du Maine & her second husband had two children:

a) UGO d'Este (-1131). His parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis, who states that he was younger than his brother Falco[120]. He succeeded in 1070 as Comte du Maine. "Heinricus…rex" confirmed "nostri dilecti cancellarii Ugoni et Fulconi germanis Azonis marchionis filiis" in all their possessions "in comitatu Gauolli, Rodigum, Cederniano, Sarzano, Maretiniago…in comitatu [Pata]uiensi Este" by undated charter placed in the compilation with other charters dated 1077[121]. He and his brother made no attempt to claim their inheritance but in 1090 were contacted in Italy by the men of Maine who had rebelled against the Normans. Ugo/Hugues arrived in Maine and was helped by Geoffrey de Mayenne to recover his maternal inheritance. According to Orderic Vitalis, when "the men of Maine discovered that their new count had neither riches nor judgment and courage to commend him, the hotheads began to regret their action"[122]. He betrayed Matilda Ctss of Tuscany (married to his half-brother's son) in early 1091, frustrating her plan to capture Emperor Heinrich IV during the latter's journey to Italy[123]. Orderic Vitalis records that Ugo/Hugues sold the county of Maine to his cousin, Hélie de la Flèche in [1093] for 10,000 shilllings[124]. The dating clause of a charter dated to [1093], which records a dispute between "Herbertus [de Wirchia]" and the church of Saint-Vincent du Mans, refers to the year in which "Longobardus…Helie comiti" sold "Cenomannicum comitatum"[125]. m (1078, repudiated) [ERIA] of Apulia, daughter of ROBERT "Guiscard/Weasel" Duke of Apulia & his second wife Sichelgaita di Salerno. Orderic Vitalis states that the wife of Ugo was daughter of Robert Guiscard (without naming her) and that he repudiated her "without cause" for which he was excommunicated by Pope Urban[126]. Her father's insistance that his principal vassals meet the cost of her wedding caused considerable resentment, triggering the revolt against Robert Guiscard in autumn 1078. Amatus records the marriage of Duke Robert's (unnamed) daughter, endowed "with a very fine dowry", and the (unnamed) son of Marquis Azzo[127]. The primary source which confirms her name has not yet been identified.

b) other child: see ESTE.

view all 13

Gersende du Maine's Timeline

1030
1030
Le Mans, Sarthe, Maine, France
1045
1045
Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire, France
1055
1055
Venables, Eure, Upper Normandy, France
1060
1060
Blois, Orleannais, West Francia
1100
May 10, 1100
Age 70
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