The Runaway Queen: Adelaide of Italy

Born: 931

Died: 16 December 999

Country: Switzerland, Italy, Germany

Culture or Era: Medieval Burgundy

This is the story of how a runaway princess depended on her own resourcefulness and reinstated the power of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the most powerful empire in the history of the world. It is through her savvy politician maneuvering that the struggling Holy Roman Empire reasserted its power, and she became ruled it as one of the greatest women in medieval Europe.

Adelaide the Empress in a stained glass window, by the master artist Lorin, in the Church of Lory, France.

Adelaide was born to King Rudolf II and Queen Bertha in Orbe Castle in the Kingdom of Upper Burgundy (on the border of modern-day Switzerland and France). Both of her parents were from powerful families, and Adelaide had connections all over France, Italy, and Germany. Like most princesses of the time, who she married was a political affair, not an emotional matter. Her parents set up a match for her with King Lothair of Italy. 

When she was fifteen, the two were wed, and Adelaide became Queen of Italy. But that same year, tragedy struck when Adelaide’s father died. This unfortunate event made the newlyweds the new King and Queen of both Italy and Burgundy. The next year they had a daughter, Emma. The two were just settling into their new roles as rulers and parents when once again, the unthinkable happened. 

On November 22, 950 Adelaide’s husband was killed. Rumor had it that he was poisoned. Adelaide’s husband had a rival, a power-hungry lord named Berengar who had already led a failed revolt against him. Many suspected that Berengar had orchestrated the poisoning, but there was no evidence to convict him. Either way, upon Lothar’s death Berengar saw his opportunity and marched in with his troops to seize the throne. Berengar tried to control Adelaide by setting her up to marry his son, Adalbert. Their marriage would also legitimize Berengar’s claim to the throne. But According to the law, the marriage could only take place if Adelaid consented. Whoever she married would be the legitimate King of Italy.

And Adelaide, now a teenage widow, hated the man who had killed her husband. She refused the match. Berengar tried to force her into the marriage, but she still refused. 

Determined to bend her to his will, Berengar threw Adelaide and two-year-old Emma into prison, where she was tortured by her captors. They were trying to force her to break and consent to the marriage. But Adelaide was not the type to give up-and she had to protect her daughter. Between bouts of torture, she plotted her revenge. For four months, she cooked up a brilliant plan to bring down the man who had killed her husband and usurped her throne. 

Ruins of Canossa Castle, where Adelaide was jailed by Berengar

The historic record isn’t exactly clear on what happened next. She may have bribed the guards to smuggle her out. She may have promised a servant land or titles in exchange for their aid. But the most prevalent story is much more robust. 

Legend has it that, trapped in her cell with her young daughter, she started to dig. And dig. And dig. For four months she dug in secret until she had created a tunnel large enough to crawl through on her stomach. She also struck up a companionship with the servant and church chaplain, who were the only people allowed to visit her cell. 

In April 951, she put her plan in motion. The servant smuggled Adelaide some maid clothes, and now in disguise, the servant, Adelaide, and her daughter escaped through the secret tunnel. She knew where they needed to go; her mother had originally come from Germany, and her brother had married the German princess. She knew the German king, Otto, would help her. She sent the servant to write a letter to King Otto while she and her daughter set off on food.

For days she carefully picked her way across the countryside, over rugged hills and damp marshes, hiding in forests and barns to avoid capture by Berengar’s forces, hunting for the escaped queen. She once came perilously close to capture. She was hiding with Emma in a wheatfield while the soldiers searched through, sweeping through the stalks of wheat with their swords to find the queen. The wheat was tall enough to tower over her, and she stayed as still as a statue. She listened to the crunch of their boots and the swish of their swords as they swept through the wheat field. One soldier went to the right of her. Another went to the left. She didn’t dare to breathe until their footsteps faded. 

With the help of some kind farmers and clerics, she and Emma slowly made their way to Germany. She knew the powerful king there, King Otto I, whose lands bordered Berengar’s and who had a strong military force. 

No matter how she escaped, it’s clear that eighteen-year-old Adelaid used her resourcefulness and connections to keep her and her daughter safe. One way another, she arrived in Otto’s court and revealed herself as the escaped queen. 

Otto welcomed Adelaide. He had heard rumors of her perilous escape, and quickly offered to help. He had already been considering marching against Berengar, and Adelaide’s appeal only cemented his intentions. Adelaide spent weeks in the castle while Otto mustered up his troops. She was on the cusp of regaining everything she had lost. In September of 951, Otto invaded Beranger’s lands. His troops were victorious and Otto soon declared deposed Berenger, who surrendered to him. Adelaide was reinstated to her rightful place as queen, and her daughter as princess. Her life was finally falling back into place. 

Otto I accepting the Surrender of Berengar, manuscript illustration from c. 1200

But one thing still remained clear: she had to remarry. She had some power as the Queen of Italy, but the culture of the time demanded that a king also be crowned. 

On October 9, 951 Adelaide married Otto. It made sense--he was a strong leader with extensive lands and military might. He had also supported her in her time of need, and proved a capable ruler. Now as King and Queen of Burgundy, Italy, and Germany, they ruled together for twenty years. Adelaide was a very involved queen. Many royal documents feature her signature, making it clear that she ruled with authority and respect over her lands. 

Statues of Adelaide and Otto I, Meissen Cathedral, Germany

Later in Life

Together, the two ruled Burgundy, Italy, and Germany, creating a stable and prosperous empire and having two more children together. Their kingdoms were so powerful that they became the heart of the resurging Holy Roman Empire. After a few years the Pope, the head of the powerful Catholic church that authorized kings and queens across Europe, declared Adelaide and Otto as Empress and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. 

After Otto’s death in 973, Adelaide continued to steer her empire with a steady hand. She supported her son and daughter-in-law, Empress Theophano, and eventually her grandson Otto III’s claims to the throne, ensuring peaceful transfers of power for generations. She died on December 16, 999. 

She is buried in the Abbey of Seltz in southern France, which she founded with Otto in 991.