The Carolingian queen who defied the Pope to shape an empire
In short: Known to history as Bertha Broadfoot, Bertrada of Laon was far more than a legendary figure of folklore. As the first Caroling and influential matriarch, she navigated forbidden marriages, papal decrees, and the complex politics of the Frankish throne to secure her family's legacy.
Born between 710 and 727 in Laon, Bertrada was a vital link between dynasties. Her lineage likely connected her to the Merovingian kings, a fact that provided essential legitimacy to her husband, Pepin the Short, after he deposed the last Merovingian monarch, Childeric III. This connection was so significant that when Pepin and Bertrada were crowned King and Queen of the Franks in 751, the anointing was a deliberate political statement of continuity.
Her personal life was marked by significant ecclesiastical tension. Her marriage to Pepin, which occurred around 740 or 741, was initially considered illegal due to their close kinship. It was not until 749, following the birth of their son Charlemagne, that the union received official papal sanction. Bertrada’s political agency extended even into her widowhood; she acted as a diplomat and mediator between her sons, Charlemagne and Carloman, and even defied Pope Stephen III.
In a notable act of political pragmatism, Bertrada facilitated Charlemagne's marriage to Desiderata, the daughter of the Lombard king Desiderius, despite the Pope's explicit opposition. While this caused a temporary strain in her relationship with Charlemagne, it demonstrated her ability to navigate the high-stakes diplomacy of the era. She eventually retired to Choisy-au-Bac, a site significant for its Merovingian ties, where she died on 12 July 783.
Despite her historical weight, Bertrada is often remembered through the lens of myth. The 13th-century poem 'Li rouman de Berte aus grands piés' by Adenes Le Roi introduced the nickname 'Bertha Broadfoot.' While some speculate this might suggest a physical deformity like a clubfoot, no contemporary records from her lifetime support such a claim, suggesting the moniker may be entirely fictitious.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Bertrada of Laon
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