Ermengarde’s origins are obscure, and the identity of her relatives is unknown. Several scholars have, however, suggested that Ermengarde was related to Humbert of Savoy and the House of Savoy. In the nineteenth-century several scholars hypothesised that Ermengarde’s first husband was Manasses, count of Savoy, with whom she had a son, Humbert of Savoy. Laurent Ripart, by contrast, suggests that Ermengarde may have been the sister of Humbert of Savoy, who was part of the entourage of Rudolf III of Burgundy. Alternatively, François Demotz argues that Ermengarde was a member of the Sigiboldides dynasty, who were also part of Rudolf III’s entourage.
After Rotbald’s death, Ermengarde married again. Her second husband, whom she married in 1011, was Rudolf III of Burgundy. Ermengarde and Rudolf were married until his death in 1032, but they had no children together. On 24 April 1011 Rudolf issued two diplomas granting Ermengarde extensive property, including the town of Vienne, the royal castle of Pipet, the counties of Vienne and Sermorens, and all his possessions between Vienne and Lake Constance, as her dower. In August 1011 Ermengarde intervened in Rudolf’s diploma, granting Henry, bishop of Lausanne, rights over the county of Vaud. The couple issued one diploma together, a donation to the monastery of Cluny in 1019. and Ermengarde intervened in many of Rudolf’s other acts, including donations to the monastery of Saint-Martin de Savigny, and the Abbey of St. Maurice, Agaunum. Acting independently, Ermengarde made a donation to Cluny for the sake of Rudolf’s soul, and endowed the monastery of Saint-Martin de Savigny in 1031.
Succession of Burgundy
At Strasbourg in 1016, Rudolf III did homage to Emperor Henry II. At the same time, Ermengarde entrusted her sons Hugh and William to Henry II’s care. Henry called Hugh and William his “beloved vassals, and granted them the fiefs of Otto-William, Count of Burgundy, who had rebelled against Henry. After Rudolf’s death in September 1032, Ermengarde and her son Hugh arranged for the transfer of the crown of Burgundy and the Holy Lance to Emperor Conrad II. In January 1033, Ermengarde, and her advocate Humbert of Savoy, and others, do homage to Conrad II at Zurich. The actions of Ermengarde and Humbert of Savoy ensured the permanent bond between Burgundy and Germany.
