Bertrada (Prüm) de Laon (abt. 685 - aft. 721)

Ancestors

Descendants

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Bertrada (Prüm) de Laon was a member of aristocracy in ancient Europe. Join: Medieval Project Discuss: medieval

Biography

Birth and Parents

The only information known about Bertrada or Berta comes from the founding of the Abbey of Prüm with Charibert in 721.... However, it's disputed as to whether the Bertrada in question was actually Charibert's wife. ^[1]

Bertrada ^[1] was born about 670. ^[2] or ^[3]

A popular genealogy shows her born 0730 in Rouergue, Toulouse, France. Such a date would move her in time by two or three generations

Bertrada de Laon's parents are unknown. ^[1]

Cawley states that Bertrada's parents are unknown. ^[1] The following have been suggested as possible parents:

• Diederik III der Merovingen and Chrodechild der Merovingen.
• Bertrada die Ältere (died after/ gestorben nach 721), Gründerin der Abtei PrümBertrada die Ältere von Prüm german info. See image: Bertrada Castle in Mürlenbach, named after Bertrada die Ältere von Prüm Merovingian. Bertrada (c. 670-c. 721), was mother of Caribert Comte de Laon. They founded Prüm Abbey in 721. His daughter Bertrada of Laon is the mother of Charlemagne. Two solutions to the question of her parentage have been suggested: either she was daughter of Pfalzgraf Hugobert and Irmina of Oeren, or she was daughter of Theuderic III, King of Neustria and Austrasia, and Clotilda of Heristal. The nickname of die Ältere translates into "the older" probably to make the distinction between her and a granddaughter who is likely her namesake, Laon-14 called Bertrada (Berta) "au grand pied, Queen of the Franks" des Francs formerly Laon aka de Laon.

She was also called Berthe or Bertree, She was perhaps a Merovingian Princess.

Marriage

The name of her husband is unknown. ^[1]

This profile is showing her married to Fredelon Toulouse formerly De Toulouse

Some genealogies show Martin de Laon as the husband of Bertrada and father of Charibert, however, no verification has yet been found for this.

Christian Settipani has proposed in an updated family tree table for Charlemagne that Bertrada married an unnamed son of Irmina. ^[4]

Monastery of Prum

The editor of Einhard's Annals in the MGH SS series records that "Pippinus…uxoris pater et Avia Charibertus et Bertradana" founded the monastery of Prüm[599]. This is presumably based on the charter dated 23 Jun 720 under which "Bertrada seu Berta et filius meus Chairibertus" donated property to Prüm, witnessed by "Bernarius, Chrodolande, Theodericus"[600], although the charter is probably spurious as it predates the foundation of the abbey. It is assumed that this refers to the mother of Charibert, father of Queen Bertrada, although another possibility is that it refers to the wife of Charibert and an otherwise unknown son of Charibert, brother of Queen Bertrada. The Monumenta Epternacensia record a donation by "Berta, filiis meis Chardradus et Harbertus"[601]. ^[1]

She may also have donated land to the Abbey of Echternach, along with Charibert and another son Hardrad in the same year.

Death and Burial

She died after 721 in France. It is not known where she died or is buried.

The Find A Grave reference showing her buried in Saint Denis Basilica has confused her with her granddaughter who is buried there. ^[2] The Cathedral of Saint Dennis is specific that it is "Pépin Le Bref (751-758) et Berthe, dite au grand pied (726-783)" who is buried there. ^[5]

Issue

Charles Cawley reports that Bertrada had three children:

1. Hardrad, died after 720. The Monumenta Epternacensia record a donation by "Berta, filiis meis Chardradus et Harbertus"[602]. ^[1]
2. Charibert [Heribert], died after 23 Jun 720. "Bertrada seu Berta et filius meus Chairibertus" donated property to Prüm by charter dated 23 Jun 720[603], although the charter is probably spurious as it predates the foundation of the abbey. The Monumenta Epternacensia record a donation by "Berta, filiis meis Chardradus et Harbertus"[604]. Comte de Laon. m ---. The name of Charibert’s wife is not known. ^[1] She is known to be the mother of Charibert of Laon, with whom she is co-founder and benefactor of the Prüm Abbey. They founded the abbey in 721. Through her son, Charibert's daughter Bertrada of Laon, wife of Pippin the Short, Bertrada is the great-grandmother of Charlemagne.
3. Weta . "Asuarius" abbot of Prüm noted a donation to the abbey by "filia in Christo Wetane", which names "genetricis tue [Wetane] Bertradane" and "Cario et coniuge tue Wettane", by undated charter dated to [762/804][610]. It is not certain that "Bertradane" was the same person as the mother of Charibert, although the common connection with Prüm indicates that this is possible. If this is correct, the charter is probably datable to the earliest part of the suggested date range, assuming that the date of Bertrada's 720 charter (see above) is correct and at that date her son Charibert was already an adult. She married Cario. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Charles Cawley. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Online at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy Website. Bertrada Accessed April 1, 2017. jhd
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #146139249 Profile for Bertrade de Prum.
3. ↑ Wikipedia
4. ↑ Christian Settipani. Updated Family Tree, page 17.
5. ↑ Tourism 93 Cathedral of Saint Dennis

See also:

• German info for this family, also the younger generations
• German genealogy
• German Source with info
• [Bertrada of Prüm]
• https://anancestoradayblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/bertrada-of-prum/
• https://books.google.com/books?id=486s3eMkLfgC&lpg=PA158&dq=bertrada%20Abbess%20of%20Pr%C3%BCm&pg=PA158#v=onepage&q&f=true
• http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MEROVINGIANS.htm#_ftnref501

• https://www.myheritage.com/names/bertrada_aquitaine has this version: Bertrada Gisele DeLaon (born Merovingian), 695 - 698

Bertrada Gisele DeLaon (born Merovingian) was born in 695, at birth place, to Hugobert Chugoberctus Hociobercthus Von Ecternach Prince Senechal of De Aquitaine and Irmina "Saint of Liege" Abbess von Aquitaine (born Oeren). Hugobert was born in 635, in Bayern, Germany. Irmina was born circa 640, in Ohren, Limburg-Weilburg, Hessen, Germany. Bertrada had 2 sisters: Chrodelinde von Autun (born BAVARIA) and one other sibling. Bertrada married Heribert DeLaon at marriage place. (if she died at age 3 how would this be possible? Such is the problem with internet trees). Heribert was born in 687, in Laon, Aisne, Pays de la Loire, France. They had 2 daughters: Mlle V De Saint Quentin (born De Laon) and one other child. Bertrada passed away in 698, at age 3 at death place.

Another internet tree has this information: Claribert I (Heribert), Count of LOAN was born in BET 700 AND 705 in of, Laon, Aisne, France. He died 4 in 751. Claribert married Bertrada, Countess of LOAN in 719. Bertrada, Countess of LOAN was born about 695 in of, Laon, Aisne, France. Bertrada, married Claribert I (Heribert), Count of LOAN in 719. They had the following children. Berthe (Bertrade) Countess of LOAN was born about 720. She died on 12 Jul 783. But it at least does have sources associated with it. See http://www.dustyhills.net/aqwg216.htm list of sources below.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugobert does not show this Bertrada. Shows the one who was an Abyss and was born in 670 and died in 721 while this one only lived 3 years. Yet this one is often attached to Hugobert in internet trees.

• https://www.myheritage.com/names/bertrada_aquitaine Internet Tree and seems to contain some errors see biography above.

• http://www.dustyhills.net/aqwg216.htm has her marrying Claribert and having a daughter with similar name. This internet tree cites the following sources:
• 1Medieval Research Dept., FHL, SLC, Ancestral File submission by the SLC, FHL Medieval Research Dept., LDS Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3440, USA, 35 N West Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT, 84150-3440, USA.

• 2Christian Settipani, Addenda to Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne (France: Heraldique et Généalogie in 1990), p. 17, Tim Farr, 756 N Monte Verde Circle, Washington, UT 84780, USA, 756 N Monte Verde Circle Washington, UT, 84780, USA.

• 3Addenda to Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne, p. 17.

• 4Addenda to Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne, p. 17.