Matilda of Tuscany La Gran Donna D’Italia by Nora Duff
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MATILDA OF TUSCANY LA GRAN DONNA D’ITALIA BY NORA DUFF ‘Chronicles tell of deeds : Time alone reveals the individual.’ 1 MY grateful thanks are due to Mr. Philip Wicksteed for most helpful criticism and advice in the earlier stages of the manuscript of Matilda, to my cousin Miss Henrietta Tayler at a later period, and to Mrs. Robert Goff for valuable assistance in the correction of proofs. It is to the kind courtesy of the Marchese Lodovico di Canossa that I am indebted for permission to reproduce the photograph from the fresco portrait of Matilda in his possession, and to Professor Bellodi of Mantua for a similar permission, with regard to the photograph of Matilda’s tomb at S. Benedetto Polirone. I wish also to acknowledge my debt of gratitude to Father Ehrle, Prefect of the Vatican Library, and to the various librarians in the public libraries of Italy who have rendered easy the work of research, and finally to all those kindly people who have sped Matilda on her way. N. D. FLORENCE May 1909 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER II The foundation of the house of Canossa—Siegfried—Azzo or Atto—The story of Adelaide—Her reception at Canossa—Canossa’s triumph—Azzo’s successor Tedaldo—Boniface’s rule—His greatness and his tyranny—Jealousy of Henry ill.—Death of Boniface—His wife Beatrice—Hildegarde and Guilla, wives of Atto and Tedaldo CHAPTER III Birth of Matilda probably at Lucca in 1046—Marriage of Beatrice with Godfrey of Lorraine— Matilda’s Betrothal by proxy to Godfrey’s Son in 1053 —Anger of Henry III. who detained Beatrice as Prisoner—Reconciliation of Henry and Godfrey—Death of Henry III. and return of Beatrice and Godfrey to Italy in 1057 CHAPTER IV A Short Summary of the Papacy with regard to the Question of Investitures —The Part played by the Emperors—Charlemagne—Otto the Great—Charter of Henry II—Hildebrand the Monk—Education in Rome and subsequent History—Attaches himself to Gregory VI. and accompanies him into Exile—Journey to Rome with Leo IX.—Councils at Rome, Pavia, Rheims and Mainz CHAPTER V Rise of the Norman Power in the South of Italy—Character of the Norman adventurers who landed there in the early part of the eleventh century, and their conflicts with the various races already in possession—At first Leo IX adopts a friendly attitude towards them, but soon changes, and determines to check their aggressions—Battle of Civitate and captivity of Leo—Embassy of Frederick of Lorraine to Constantinople—Robert Guiscard—Death of Leo IX in 1054—Gerbhard of Eichstadt elected Pope as Victor II.—Henry III fears the increasing power of Duke Godfrey and is suspicious of his brother Frederick—The latter retires to Monte Cassino—Death of Henry III.— Minority of Henry IV and regency of the Empress Agnes—Death of Victor II, 1057—Stephen IX.—The Antipope Benedict X.—Appointment of Nicholas II. in place of the Antipope, CHAPTER VI Matilda’s early upbringing—Her training under Arduino della Palude—Her mother’s part in her education—Her appearance—The portraits of her extant, CHAPTER VII Lateran Council held by Nicholas II., 1059—Alliance with the Normans— Hildebrand as Archdeacon and Abbot of St. Paul’s—The Pataria at Milan —Death of Nicholas, 1061, in Rome—Anselm, Bishop of Lucca, is elected Pope as Alexander XI.—Lombard Prelates cause Cadalous of Parma to be Pope with the approval of the Empress Agnes—These rival Popes are the means of producing a widespread schism in the Church : it is agreed to refer the whole question of the schism to a Council—The Council held at Mantua in 1064, when Alexander is unanimously declared the lawful successor to Peter—Cadalous and his friend Guibert retire to Parma, to conspire once more against the Pope CHAPTER VIII Cadalous and Guibert induce the Normans to invade the Papal Territory—The Normans march on Rome—Beatrice attempts to entrap Cadalous —Cadalous, however, reaches Rome, and takes the Leonine quarter—Duke Godfrey’s forces drive off the schismatics and enter Rome—Cadalous remains in St. Angelo— Holds the fortress for two years—Finally driven out and flees from Rome—Godfrey is held by some to have 3 been privy to his escape—Alexander appoints his nephew Anselm as Matilda’s spiritual adviser —Renewed conflict with the Normans—Their rout at Aquino CHAPTER IX Confusion existing regarding the date of Matilda’s marriage with Godfrey of Lorraine—Vedriani’s account—Most probably the marriage took place between 1069 and 3071—Differences between husband and wife—Matilda’s journey into Lorraine—Return to Italy—Godfrey in Italy in 1073—Gregory elected Pope— Evil conduct of the young Emperor—Gregory's Council in 1074 CHAPTER X The Abbot of St. Hubert determines to journey to Rome in company with the Bishop of Metz, and lay his cause before the Pope—They are entertained in Pisa by Beatrice and Matilda, and Abbot Dietrich is given letters to the Pope—Gregory receives him and sends him away with power to act against Duke Godfrey—Godfrey attempts a reconciliation with Matilda—The plot against the Pope’s life in Santa Maria Maggiore is unsuccessful—Gregory is made prisoner, but is released on the following day—Death of Godfrey in February 1076, and of Beatrice in April 1076—Matilda has henceforth to stand alone—Henry IV is reproved by the Pope for his evil conduct—Retaliates by commanding the Pope to vacate the Chair of Peter, and sends an envoy to Rome with an insolent letter to Gregory—Gregory excommunicates him and many German bishops—Effect of this on Henry’s subjects, who declare he must have the sentence of excommunication removed, or lose his kingdom—The excommunicated bishops hasten across the Alps to ask for absolution—Henry departs from Spires, halts at Besançon for Christmas, and finally, with great difficulty, crosses the Alps in the winter of 1076-1077 CHAPTER XI Gregory leaves Rome and is escorted by Matilda and her troops through Lombardy—On hearing Henry is in Italy he turns aside to Canossa—Arrival of excommunicated bishops and laymen—They receive pardon—Gregory at Canossa—Henry’s arrival—Penitence and reconciliation with the Pope— Henry’s plot to entrap Gregory frustrated by Matilda’s man-at-arms— Gregory remains in Matilda’s strongholds throughout the summer CHAPTER XII Civil war in Germany and the campaign against Rudolf of Swabia—Gregory still hesitates to excommunicate Henry again—Rebellion of Lucchese against Matilda—Gregory pronounces anathema on Henry once more and sends Rudolf the imperial crown; Henry has Guibert elected Pope at Brixen— Rout of Matilda’s troops at Volta and death of Rudolf—Henry and Guibert encamp on the meadows of Nero outside Rome, and for three years Rome is invested during the winter—Anselm’s letter to Guibert in defence of Matilda—Matilda forced to send Canossa’s treasure to the help of Rome—Triumph of the schismatics— Henry’s coronation in Rome—The Normans in Rome—Flight of Henry—Sack of the city CHAPTER XIII Gregory’s last Lateran Council—Matilda’s letter to the faithful in Germany —Gregory's retreat to Salerno—Extract from his letter to the faithful abroad —Matilda’s victory at Sobara—Death of Gregory, 25th May 1085, at Salerno CHAPTER XIV Pestilence and famine visit Italy in 1085—Death of Anselm of Lucca— Desiderius of Cassino elected Pope—Refuses the Papacy at first—At length gives his consent and is installed in Rome as Pope, 1087— Matilda entertains Robert of Normandy, but rejects his suit—Matilda learns bad news from Rome and hastens to take the field once more—Arrives in Rome and confers with Pope Victor, June 1087—They agree to attack the schismatics, but are discomfited—Death of Pope Victor, Sept. 1087 CHAPTER XV Election of Urban II.—Arranges for Matilda’s second marriage—Matilda persuaded to consent to it for political reasons—Henry, furious at the marriage, besieges Mantua, which capitulates—Domnizo’s lament over Mantua CHAPTER XVI Henry assaults Ferrara, which opens its gates at once to him—Matilda’s troops betrayed by Ugo di Manso and defeated at Tre Contadi—Henry besieges Montebello, which holds out for a considerable time— Makes overtures of peace—Matilda consents to consider them—Calls a council of war—Carpineta—Speeches of the Bishop of Reggio and the abbot of Canossa CHAPTER XVII Henry raises the siege of Montebello and marches upon Canossa—His discomfiture and flight—His standard captured and brought to Canossa, where it is placed in the Church of St. Apollonio—Flight of Adelaide, Henry's wife —Takes refuge with Matilda—Rebellion of Conrad, who is offered the crown of Italy—He accepts—Journey of Pope Urban to Lombardy—Welcomed by Matilda—Council of Piacenza— Separation of Guelf and Matilda in 1095—Reasons for the separation not absolutely known, though there are many plausible ones to be found—Henry’s last hostility against Matilda at Nogara unsuccessful CHAPTER XVIII The beginnings of the Crusades—Aspirations of Gregory VII.—His letters to Henry in 1074—Forced to abandon the idea—Development under Pope Urban II. at Councils of Piacenza and Claremont—Urban appeals to all true warriors to fight for the Holy Sepulchre—Departure from Lucca of the Crusaders in 1095—Halt in Rome and disillusionment of many who turn back—Capture of Jerusalem—Death of Urban, 1099 CHAPTER XIX Election of Paschal II.—Death of Antipope Guibert in 1100—Matilda promotes the founding of the School of Jurisprudence at Bologna, and appoints Irnerius to codify the Laws of Justinian—Restores and beautifies S.