Ermengarde OF BEAUMONT Queen of Scotland 1954
- Born: 1170, Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France 1954
- Marriage (1): William "the Lion" OF SCOTLAND King of Scots on 9 May 1189 in Woodstock, , Oxfordshire, England 1953
- Died: 11 February 1233, Balmerino, , Fife, Scotland at age 63 1954
- Buried: 11 February 1233, Balmerino, , Fife, Scotland 1954
FamilySearch ID: MMHP-PG4
General Notes:
Ermengarde de Beaumont (c. 1170-11 February 1233) was Queen of Scotland as the wife of King William I. She is reported to have exerted influence over the affairs of state as queen, though the information of her is lacking in detail.
Life
Ermengarde was born c. 1170 to Richard I, Viscount of Beaumont-le-Vicomte, Fresnay and Ste-Suzanne, and Lucie de l'Aigle (died aft. 1217). Her father was the grandson of King Henry I of England.
She married King William I of Scotland at the royal chapel at Woodstock Palace near Oxford in England on 5 September 1186 by Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury. The marriage was arranged by King Henry II of England, who was at the time the acknowledged overlord of Scotland: William considered her status beneath him, but agreed after Henry offered to pay for the entire wedding, land valued at 100 merks and 40 knight's fees, and to return the castles that he had forfeited, one of them being Edinburgh.
The chronicler Walter Bower described Ermengarde as 'an extraordinary woman, gifted with a charming and witty eloquence'. Though William had many lovers before his marriage, he was reportedly never unfaithful to her after their wedding. The relatives of Ermengarde benefited from her status as queen. She is recorded to have presided with the Bishop of St. Andrews over a complex court case. In 1207, there was a complaint by a canon that a royal chaplain obtained the bishopric of Glasgow by bribing the King and the Queen. Queen Ermengarde is credited with mediating a renegotiation of the 1209 treaty, probably due to her husband's incapacity. Due to the illness of William, Ermengarde took over some of his duties during his later years, and there is evidence that she wielded considerable influence in public affairs. In 1212, she accompanied William with their children to King John of England to secure the succession of their son Alexander. Ermengarde was described as distraught and lethargic over her husband's death in 1214.
As queen dowager, she devoted her time to the foundation of a Cistercian abbey at Balmerino in Fife. It was completed in 1229, and she often visited it as a guest with her son Alexander. She stayed at the abbey many times.
Children
1.) Margaret of Scotland (1193-1259). Married Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent.
2.) Isabella of Scotland (1195-1253). Married Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk.
3.) Alexander II of Scotland (1198-1249).
4.) Marjorie of Scotland (1200-1244). Married Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke.
She died on 12 February 1233/1234, and was buried at St Edward of Balmerino Abbey, Fife.
Noted events in her life were:
1. Marriage: couple, on 5 September 1186, in Woodstock, , Oxfordshire, England. 1952
2. Title of Nobility: Queen consort of Scotland, on an unknown date,. 1952
3. Title of Nobility: Queen, on 5 September 1186, in , , , Scotland. 1952
4. Title of Nobility: Queen consort of Scotland, between 1186 and 1214,. 1952
Ermengarde married William "the Lion" OF SCOTLAND King of Scots, son of Prince Henry OF SCOTLAND 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and Northumbria and Ada DE WARENNE, on 9 May 1189 in Woodstock, , Oxfordshire, England.1953 (William "the Lion" OF SCOTLAND King of Scots was born on 4 December 1143 in Perth, , Perth and Kinross, Scotland,1954 died on 4 December 1214 in Stirling, , Stirlingshire, Scotland 1954 and was buried on 10 December 1214 in Arbroath, Angus, Angus, Scotland 1954.)
Marriage Notes:
The marriage will be celebrated by Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Edinburgh Castle will be returned to William the Lion on this occasion.
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