Gertrude of Merania

Gertrude of Merania ( 1185 – 28 September 1213) was Queen of Hungary as the first wife of Andrew II from 1205 until her assassination. She was regent during her husband's absence. Life Gertrude was the daughter of the Bavarian Count Berthold IV of Andechs, Margrave of Carniola and Istria, and his wife Agnes from the Saxon House of Wettin. Gertrude's elder sister was Agnes of Merania, a famous beauty, who married King Philip II of France. Her younger sister was St. Hedwig of Silesia, wife of the Piast duke Henry I the Bearded, the later High Duke of Poland. Their brothers were Otto, who inherited the title of Duke of Merania and succeeded their father in his Bavarian domains, Henry who took over the rule in Carniola and Istria, and Berthold who became a close advisor to Gertrude and was named Archbishop of Kalocsa. Marriage Gertrude's parents arranged political marriages for their daughters, creating alliances for her father, Duke Berthold. Gertrude married the Árpád prince Andrew II, younger son of late King Béla III of Hungary, before 1204. Andrew thereby took sides in the conflict over the German throne, joining his father-in-law in his support of Duke Philip of Swabia, while his elder brother King Emeric of Hungary backed King Otto IV of Germany.