medieval-women: Bertrade de Montfort Queen consort of the Franks Born c. 1070 – Died 14 Februa

medieval-women:

Bertrade de Montfort

Queen consort of the Franks

Born c. 1070 – Died 14 February 1117

Claim to Fame: married a married man whom she left to marry another married man whilst they were both still married…

Bertrade (or Bertrada) was the daughter of Simon I de Montfort. The chronicler John of Marmoutier described her as someone “whom no good man ever praised save for her beauty”.

Though he was already married, the Count of Anjou, Fulk IV, fell passionately in love with Bertrade. They were married in 1089, and had a son, Fulk V.

Just three years later, Bertrade left her husband for King Philip I of France. Bertrade and Phillip were married despite the fact that they both had spouses living. Incredibly, Bertrade persuaded Philip and Fulk to be friends.

Phillip’s passion for Bertrade was such that he refused to leave her even when he was excommunicated and prevented from taking part in the First Crusade.

The couple had three children and Bertrade is rumoured to have attempted to kill Phillip’s son Louis (her stepson) in order to have one of her sons become the heir.

Bertrade spent her final years in Fontevraud Abbey and died in 1117. Her descendants ruled for centuries in England (Plantagenets) and Jerusalem.