A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Angelberga, or, Ingelberga

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4107930A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography — Angelberga, or, Ingelberga

ANGELBERGA, or, INGELBERGA,

Empress of the West, wife of Louis the Second, emperor and king of Italy, is supposed to have been of illustrious birth, though that is uncertain. She was a woman of courage and ability; but proud, unfeeling, and venal. The war in which her husband was involved with the king of Germany was rendered unfortunate by the pride and rapacity of Angelberga. In 874, Angelberga built, at Plaisance, a monastery which afterwards became one of the most famous in Italy. Louis the Second died at Brescia, in 875. After his death, Angelberga remained at the convent of St. Julia in Brescia, where her treasures were deposited. In 881, Charles the Fat, of France, caused Angelberga to be taken and carried prisoner into Germany; lest she should assist her daughter Hermengard, who had married Boron king of Provence, a connection of Charles, by her wealth and political knowledge; but the pope obtained her release. It is not known when she died. She had two daughters, Hermengard, who survived her, and Gisela, abbess of St. Julia, who died before her parents.