Richilde of Provence

Who was Richilde of Provence?

Richilde of the Ardennes was the second consort of Charles the Bald, King and Emperor of the Franks. By her marriage, she became Queen of the West Franks, and then Empress of the Franks. She also served as regent.

Richilde was the daughter of Bivin of Gorze, Count of the Ardennes, and the sister of Boso of Provence. Her aunt was Theutberga, the wife of Lothar II of Lotharingia. Her marriage to Charles the Bald, in 870 after the death of his first wife, Ermentrude of Orléans, was intended to secure his rule in Lotharingia through her powerful family and her connection to Theutberga, the previous Queen consort. She bore him five children, but only the eldest daughter, Rothilde, who married first Hugues of Bourges and secondly Roger of Maine, survived to adulthood.

Whenever Charles went to war, Richilde managed the realm, and acted as head of state after the death of Charles in 877.

She planned to place her brother Boso, Duke of Burgundy, on the throne, after Louis the Stammerer died shortly after his father while his children were too young to rule on their own.