• Born: Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence, France
• Married:
• Died: After 28 Jul 1094

  Research Notes:

Szabolcs de Vaja y suggests that the wife of Geoffroy [I] Comte de Provence was the daughter of Guillaume [II] Vicomte de Marseille & his second wife. He relies on the numerous common connections between the Provence and Marseille families in the charters of Marseille Saint-Victor, which indicate the likelihood of a family connection, although he points to no specific document which supports his argument. He also highlights that the supposed mother of Etiennette [Douce] was referred to in sources as “Stephana”, in contrast to the diminutive “Stephanetta” used by her supposed daughter, which he says is consistent with a mother/daughter relationship. However, as can be seen from the extracts quoted in this section, Etiennette [Douce] was not consistently referred to in charters by the diminutive form of her name. "Gaufredus comes" donated property to Monmajour by charter dated 1040, signed by "Bertrannus comes…Stephania comitissa". The date of her marriage is set by the charter dated 27 Jan 1040 under which "Josfredus comes et uxor mea" confirmed a donation of property to Saint-Victor de Marseille, although it is not clear from the document that the confirmation (which appears after the text which recites the original grant) was contemporaneous with the donation. Raimbaud Archbishop of Arles transferred property in the presence of "Jauffredi comitis et Stephanie uxor sue" by charter dated Mar 1048. "Godfredus comes Provincie et uxor mea Stephania et filius meus Bertrannus" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille by charter dated 1 Jul 1055. "Gausfredus marchyo sive comes Provincie et uxor mea Stefania et filius meus Bertrannus" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille by charter dated 1057. “Godfredus comes et uxor mea Stephania et filius meus Bertrannus” donated property by charter dated 15 Feb 1060. A charter dated 28 Jul 1094 records that "Raimundus...comes et Provincie marchio" and “Dulcis comitissa” both donated tolls on the Durance and Rhône rivers to Saint-Victor de Marseille “atque domno Ricardo”, confirming each other’s donations. A charter dated 11 Sep 1095 confirmed a donation to Saint-Victor de Marseille by “Stephania comitissa cognomento Dulcis” for the soul of “filii sui Bertranni comitis”. The wording of this document is silent on whether the donor was deceased at the time. Szabolcs de Vajay indicates that the two documents dated 1094 and 1095 are the only ones which specify her alternative name “Douce” and suggests that Etiennette could have adopted the name in old age, maybe on taking the veil. [Szabolcs de Vajay suggests that Etiennette married secondly Bernard [II] Comte de Bigorre. He bases this suggestion on the charter dated 1 Apr 1080 under which "Centullus comes et uxor mea Beatrix et mater eius Stephania" donated the monastery of Saint-Savin de Lavedan "in comitatu Bigorritano" to Marseille Saint-Victor “et abbati Ricardo”, pointing out that the Bigorre family made no earlier donations to Marseille Saint-Victor. He also points out that this second marriage would explain the absence of Etiennette [Douce] from any charters in Provence for more than 30 years after the death of Comte Geoffroy [I]. It should be noted that Etiennette, widow of Bermard [II] Comte de Bigorre, was absent from the similar donation made to Marseille Saint-Victor by her daughter and son-in-law dated 12 May 1087. This could indicate that she was deceased by then or (as suggested by Szabolcs de Vajay) that she had returned to Provence. Szabolcs de Vajay’s argument for this second marriage has some appeal, but in the absence of other indications cannot be taken as conclusive.] ¹