Ermentrude of Orléans

Ermentrude of Orléans (also "Hirmentrude" or "Irmintrud") (September 27 823 – October 6 869) was Queen of Franks by her marriage to Charles the Bald, Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia. She was the daughter of Odo, Count of Orleans and his wife, Engeltrude.

She and Charles married in 842. Their children were:
* Judith (844–870), married firstly with Ethelwulf of Wessex, secondly with Ethelbald of Wessex (her stepson) and thirdly with Baldwin I of Flanders
* Louis the Stammerer (846–879)
* Charles the Child (847–866)
* Lothar (848–865), monk in 861, became Abbot of Saint-Germain
* Carloman (849–876)
* Rotrud (852–912), a nun, Abbess of Saint-Radegunde
* Ermentrud (854–877), a nun, Abbess of Hasnon
* Hildegard (born 856, died young)
* Gisela (857–874)

Ermentrude had a gift for embroidery and an interest in religious foundations. Her husband gave her the Abbey of Chelles. She separated from her husband after he executed her rebellious brother William in 866, and retreated to the life of a nunnery. Ermentrude was buried in the Basilique Saint-Denis, Paris, France.

References

Dutton, P E, "Charlemagne's Mustache"Riche, Pierre, "The Carolingians"