Emnilda

Emnilda of Lusatia
Duchess consort of the Polans
Spouse(s)	Bolesław I Chrobry
Father	Dobromir of Lusatia
Born	c.  970–975 Slovenia
Died	1017 Kraków

Emnilda (Polish: Emnilda słowiańska; b. Slovenia, c. 970–975, d. Kraków, 1017), was a Slavic princess and by marriage Duchess of Poland. She was a daughter of Dobromir, believed to be a Slavic ruler of Lusatia and Milsko, who was named venerable (meaning "prince") by Thietmar of Merseburg.

Ancestry

Most historians believe that Emnilda's father, Dobromir was a Lusatian prince. The German chronicler Thietmar referred to him as "seniore" which in this context most likely meant "prince", and showed a familiarity with the person. This suggests that Dobromir was someone well known to Thietmar, who was the Bishop of Merseburg and hence Emnilda's father was from an area close to Merseburg.

However, other historians have argued for a different background. Henryk Łowmiański believed Emnilda to have been a daughter of the last independent prince of the Vistulans. Tadeusz Wasilewski saw in her a Moravian princess.

Life

The wedding of Emnilda and the heir of the Polish throne, Bolesław, took place around 987. This was the third marriage for the young prince: his previous two wives, the daughter of Margrave Rikdag of Meissen (perhaps called Hunilda or Oda) and the Hungarian princess Judith, were repudiated after few years, but both produced offspring to Bolesław, a daughter and a son, Bezprym. During her marriage, Emnilda bore her husband five children, two sons (the future Mieszko II Lambert and Otto) and three daughters, one of them a nun and the other two, Regelinda and another whose name is unknown, became Margravine of Meissen and Grand Princess of Kiev, respectively.

It's claimed that Emnilda had a great influence on her husband, and perhaps also in the state affairs. She probably accompanied Bolesław to the meeting of Merseburg on 23 May 1013 and perhaps she actively promoted the recognition of his son Mieszko as a vassal of the Emperor for his government over Moravia, a fact who put in jeopardy the succession rights of Bolesław I's eldest son Bezprym, who at the end was excluded in favor of his younger half-brother.

She was mentioned by Gallus Anonymus and Thietmar of Merseburg; both chroniclers noted she was a wise and charming person.

The exact date of Emnilda's death is unknown, but is assumed that this happened in 1017 at the latest, or, more likely, at the end of 1016, because on 3 February 1018 Bolesław I married with his fourth and last wife, Oda of Meissen.

References

Emnilda Born: c. 970–975 Died: 1017
Royal titles
Preceded by Oda of Haldensleben	Duchess consort of the Polans 992–1017	Succeeded by Oda of Meissen