Gerberga, Countess of Provence

Gerberga (1045/65–1115), also spelled Gerberge or Gerburge, was the Countess of Provence for more than a decade, until 1112. Provence is a region located in the southeastern part of modern-day France that did not become part of France until 1481 (well after Gerberga's time).

Countess Gerberga was a daughter of Geoffrey I of Provence (who was jointly Count of Provence with his brothers) and his wife Etiennette.^[1] However, Gerberga did not succeed her father immediately, but rather became Countess decades after his death, during which time other relatives filled that position. It is unclear exactly when she became countess; sources indicate it was no earlier than 1093 and no later than 1100.^[1][2]

She and her husband, Gilbert I of Gévaudan, were considered virtuous.^[3] He participated in the Crusades, donating many relics from the Middle East to churches in Provence.^[4] Gilbert later died in 1108. Gerberga then took control of the government, and is said to have ruled wisely.^[5] In 1112, her eldest daughter Douce was married to Raymond Berengar III of Barcelona at which point Provence was ceded to him.^[2] Her second daughter, Stephanie, would lay claim to the county and thus precipitate the Baussenque Wars in 1144.

References

1. 1 2 Medieval Lands Project: Provence., Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (Accessed August 15, 2013).
2. 1 2 The new Werner twentieth century edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 19, p. 903 (The Werner Company, 1907).
3. ↑ Fouque, Claude. Fastes de la Provence ancienne et moderne: Contenant l'histoire politique, civile, héroi'que et religieuse de ses principales villes, Volume 1 , p. 346 (Barile et Boulouch, 1838).
4. ↑ Cook, Theodore. Old Provence, p. 205 (Interlink Books, 1905).
5. ↑ Clement, Francois. L' Art De Vérifier Les Dates Des Faits Historiques, Des Chartes, Des Chroniques, Et Autres Anciens Monumens, Depuis La Naissance De Notre-Seigneur, p. 436 (Jombert, 1784).