Bercta (Berthe, Aldeberge) MEROVING 1
- Born: Bef 560, Heristal, , Neustria
- Married: Abt 580
- Died: Abt 601, Metz, Austrasia
Research Notes:
Queen of Kent whose influence led to the Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England. She was canonized as a saint for her role in its establishment during that period of English history.
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Gregory of Tours records that the daughter of King Charibert and Ingoberg "eventually married a man from Kent and went to live there". Bede records that "rex Aedilberct in Cantia" had "uxorem…Christianam de gente Francorum regia…Bercta" whom he had received "a parentibus" on condition she retained her religion. It is reasonable to assume that Berta was born before 560, given the subsequent marital history of her father, who died in 567 having married three times after repudiating his first wife, although it is possible that some if not all of his marriages were polygamous. Kirby suggests that Berta's marriage took place in [580] after analysing the various contradictory chronological indications in contemporary sources. According to Bede, as noted above, King Æthelberht received Bertha "a parentibus". As her father died in 567, and her mother in 589, this appears to mean that she married before 567 if taken literally, which seems unlikely. The word "parents" may in this context mean "relatives" more broadly. Already a Christian when she came to England, she was accompanied by Liudhard, a Frankish bishop, although if he attempted to convert her husband his efforts must have been unsuccessful in view of the later conversion of King Æthelberht by St Augustine. Queen Berta is named in Pope Gregory I's letter of 601 to her husband. Bede records the burial of "Aedilbert tex Cantuariorum" in "portico sancti Martini intro ecclesiam beatorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli" stating that this was where "Berctæ regina" was buried. 2
Marriage Information:
Bercta married Æðelbeorht I OISCINGAS King of Kent (c.580-616), son of Eormenric OISCINGAS King of Kent and Unknown, about 580. (Æðelbeorht I OISCINGAS King of Kent (c.580-616) was born in 552 in Kent, England and died on 24 Feb 615-616 in Kent, England.)
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