Judith of Babenberg

Who was Judith of Babenberg?

Judith of Babenberg, was a daughter of Agnes of Germany and her second husband Leopold III of Austria. The chronicler Otto of Freising was one of her older brothers; Conrad III of Germany her half-brother. Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor was her nephew.

She married c. 1133 William V, Marquess of Montferrat, by whom she bore at least eight children. Of their five sons, four became prominent in the affairs of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and of Byzantium:

William Longsword, Count of Jaffa and Ascalon; father of Baldwin V of Jerusalem.

Conrad of Montferrat, King of Jerusalem

Boniface of Montferrat; his successor to Montferrat and founder of the Kingdom of Thessalonica.

Frederick of Montferrat, Bishop of Alba

Renier of Montferrat; married into the Byzantine imperial family.

And three daughters:

Agnes of Montferrat; married Count Guido Guerra III Guidi of Modigliana. The marriage was annulled on grounds of childlessness before 1180, when Guido remarried, and Agnes entered the convent of Santa Maria di Rocca delle Donne.

Adelasia of Montferrat; married Manfred II, Marquess of Saluzzo, c. 1182, and was regent for her grandson, Manfred III.