Profile
Adelaide was born a princess, the daughter of King Rudolf II (Rupert II) of Upper Burgundy. She was promised at age two in an arranged marriage as part of a treaty between Rudolf and Hugh of Provence. She was married at age 16 to Lothair of Italy, who eventually became king of Italy.
Adelaide was widowed in 950 while still a teenager; Lothair was probably poisoned by his successor to the throne, Berengarius. As part of his attempt to solidify his grip on power, Berengarius ordered Adelaide to marry his son; she refused, and was imprisoned. She was freed soon after when the German king Otto the Great defeated Berengarius.
Adelaide married Otto in Pavia, Italy in 951. He was crowned Emperor in Rome, Italy in 952, and Adelaide reigned with him for 20 years. Widowed in 973, she was ill-treated by her step-son, Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophano, but eventually reconciled with her royal in-laws.
When Otto II died in 983, he was succeeded by his infant son, Otto III. Theophano acted as regent, and since she still did not like Adelaide, used her power to exile her from the royal court. Theophano died in 991, and Adelaide returned once again to the court to act as regent for the child emperor.
Adelaide used her position and power to help the poor, to evangelize, especially among the Slavs, and to build and restore monasteries and churches. When Otto III was old enough, Adelaide retired to the convent of Selta near Cologne, a house she had built. Though she never became a nun, she spent the rest of her days there in prayer.
Born
c. 931 in the kingdom of Burgundy, Holy Roman Empire (modern Burgundy, France)
Died
16 December 999 at the monastery of Selta (Seltz), Alsace of natural causes
Canonized
1097 by Pope Urban II
Patronage
- abuse victims
- against in-law problems
- brides
- empresses
- exiles
- parenthood
- parents of large families
- people in exile
- princesses
- prisoners
- second marriages
- step-parents
- victims of abuse
- widows
Representation
- empress dispensing alms and food to the poor, often beside a ship
- escaping from prison in a boat
- holding a church
- veil
Source/s:
Saint Adelaide of Burgundy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_of_Italy#/media/File:Sainte-Ad%C3%A9la%C3%AFde_-_%C3%89glise_de_Toury,_vitraux_par_Lorin.jpg
