| Richenza of Northeim | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Depiction in theGospels of Henry the Lion, Richenza's grandson | |
| Holy Roman Empress | |
| Tenure | 4 June 1133 – 4 December 1137 |
| Coronation | 4 June 1133 |
| Queen consort of Germany | |
| Tenure | 30 August 1125 – 4 December 1137 |
| Born | c. 1087/1089 |
| Died | (1141-06-10)10 June 1141 |
| Spouse | Lothair II, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Issue | Gertrude, Duchess of Bavaria |
| Father | Henry, Margrave of Frisia |
| Mother | Gertrude of Brunswick |
Richenza of Northeim (c. 1087/1089 – 10 June 1141) wasDuchess of Saxony from 1106,Queen of Germany from 1125 andHoly Roman Empress from 1133 as the wife ofLothair of Supplinburg.
Richenza was the daughter of CountHenry the Fat of Northeim (d. 1101) andGertrude of Brunswick,[1] daughter of theBrunonid margraveEgbert I of Meissen. Around 1107 Richenza marriedLothair of Supplinburg,[1] recently enfeoffed with theDuchy of Saxony. Richenza's only surviving daughter with Lothair,Gertrude of Süpplingenburg, was born in 1115.[1] In 1127 she married theBavarian dukeHenry the Proud (d. 1139), a member of theWelf dynasty.[1]
After Lothair was electedKing of the Romans in 1125, Richenza was crowned queen by ArchbishopFrederick I of Cologne. Richenza took an active part in her husband's reign, which is reflected in her activities during thepapal schism of 1130, and her role as intermediary between Lothair and hisHohenstaufen rivals, the proclaimed antikingConrad III and his brother DukeFrederick II of Swabia. In 1132-33 she accompanied her husband toItaly. They were crowned emperor and empress byPope Innocent II at theLateran Basilica inRome on 4 June 1133. She also took part in Lothair's second Italian expedition in 1136–37, whereby she presided over hearings of the Imperial court and issued several deeds.
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Lothair died in 1137, and Richenza moved swiftly to ensure the lands of Saxony went to her son-in-law, Duke Henry the Proud. OnPentecost the following year, however, thePrinces of the Holy Roman Empire convened inBamberg to elect Conrad III King of the Romans. Conrad vested theAscanian countAlbert the Bear with Saxony and Henry died soon after, in the autumn of 1139. Richenza fought hard for the inheritance of her grandsonHenry the Lion, seeing to his education, and pushing for his right to be regarded as the heir to the Saxon duchy. Young Henry was finally appointed Duke in 1142; his mother Gertrude ruled as regent until his majority.
Richenza however did not live to see her grandson succeed to the duchy. She died in 1141 and was buried next to her husband Emperor Lothair and her son-in-law Duke Henry the Proud in the Imperial Cathedral atKönigslutter. Her grave goods included a simple and elegant lead crown.
Media related toRichenza of Northeim at Wikimedia Commons
Richenza of Northeim Born: ? 1087 Died: 10 June 1141 | ||
| German royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Holy Roman Empress 1133–1137 | Succeeded by |
| Queen consort of Germany 1125–1137 | Succeeded by | |
| International | |
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| People | |
| Other | |
