Bertha of Burgundy

Bertha of Burgundy was the daughter of King Conrad III. of Burgundy and Matilda, daughter of the West Frankish king Louis IV

In the literature, their survival data are generally * 965; † given by 1010.

She married her first husband Odo I, Count of Blois and Chartres, with whom she had three children.

The future King Robert II the Pious repudiated his first wife Rozala - Susanna of Italy, which once had to be political reasons, regardless of age, married, no children gave birth. To ensure the continuation of the royal dynasty, the marriage to Bertha was considered. In some representations there is the assumption that the marriage would be presumed as a rebellion against his father, Hugh Capet and until his death in October 996 had paved the way for the marriage freely. The presentation of contemporary chroniclers can now no longer accept this, especially kinship seeing at that time were not uncommon.

Rather, due to the violation of ecclesiastical marriage barriers, Bertha was not only his cousin, Robert II was also the godfather of her son, so that a case of " cognatio spiritualis " was selected, both aroused the indignation of the Church. Pope Gregory V. threatened both 997 with excommunication. Since his spell had no effect, followed by 999 of the decision, the Robert II had to leave his wife and both had to make a seven-year penance. The couple remained together until Bertha was 1003/ 04 violated. However, the separation did not change the relationship between Robert and Bertha. He even tried to Pope Sergius IV of 1010 to move to recognize the marriage of the two ..

Robert married in 1003 to Constance of Provence, which secured the standard sequence with the birth of sons.