Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/83

Rh Christian to die." So she died and was buried in the church of St. Servatius at Quedlinburg, by the side of her husband.

Besides other children undistinguished in history, Matilda had: (1) Otho I., king of Germany, 936; of Italy, 951; Emperor, 962; called, for his beauty and charming disposition, "Amor Mundi," for his noble deeds and successful rule, "the Great;" he married (1st) in 929, B. of England; (2ndly)   of Burgundy; (2) Henry, duke of Bavaria; (3) St. Bruno, born 928, archbishop of Cologne, chancellor of the empire; called the Duke Archbishop, because he held for a time, in his brother's interests, the dukedom of Lorraine; he is called by Widukind of Corvei, "the great Bishop;" Bruno was a very learned man, and as capable and faithful a servant and subject as any king ever had: he died Oct. 11, 965; (4) Gerberga, married (1st) in 928, Gislebert, duke of Lorraine, and (2ndly) Louis IV., king of France, called d'Outremer; (5) Hedwig, married Hugh, count of Paris, they had a son Hugh Capet, ancestor of the kings of France.

Matilda's chief foundations were monasteries at Quedlinburg, Nordhausen (to benefit the souls of her husband and her son Henry), Enger and Polden. Quedlinburg as well as Herford, where she was brought up, enjoyed the privilege of Reichsunmittelbarkeit, that is, none but the Emperor had authority over it. This privilege ceased only with the dissolution of the empire in 1802.

AA.SS. Giesebrecht, Deutschlands Kaiserzeit. Clarus, Die Heilige Mathilde.

B. Matilda (2), Feb. 6 or 7, + 999. Eldest child of Otho the Great by his second wife .—Matilda was abbess of Quedlinburg, founded in 966 by her grandmother. It was one of the great, rich, important monasteries, whose abbess was almost always a princess of the royal or imperial family and was ex officio a powerful personage, having a seat in the diets and councils of the empire. Her nephew Otho III. made her Regent of Germany during his absence in Italy; which office she filled with great wisdom and dignity. She died with reputation of eminent piety, a few months before her mother, who leaned much on her for advice and comfort. She is called Saint by Lahier. Stadler.

B. Matilda (3), May 21, Nov. 4, + c. 1025. The Emperor Otho II., son of, married the beautiful and learned princess Theophano and had one son, Otho III.; and three daughters, Adelaide, Sophia and Matilda. By their mother's wish, Adelaide and Sophia took the veil and became abbesses of the two grand monasteries of Quedlinburg and Gandersheim, a dignity which gave to each a seat in the imperial diet and made of each a great power in the empire. Matilda lived with her brother, the young and beautiful Emperor. No prince at his court, no neighbouring king was great enough to aspire to her hand; nevertheless. Count Ehrenfried loved her. One of Otho's favourite companions, he was of noble Saxon descent and excelled in every accomplishment of the youth of that time. Otho was passionately fond of chess, and was accounted the best player in Europe. Ehrenfried was one of the few who nearly equalled him. They had played many games together for high stakes; Ehrenfried sometimes won, but much more often the Emperor was the victor. At last they agreed to try who should win three games in succession, the victor to choose what gift he would have from his opponent. Ehrenfried commended himself to the Holy Trinity. He won two of the games and the third was played in breathless anxiety. They sat long at the board, until the game was nearly done and the Emperor thought himself sure of victory. It was Ehrenfried's turn to move. Could he win? His head swam, he shut his eyes and lifted up his soul and prayed for the success of his love. Then stretching out his hand he moved his piece, and lo! he had checkmated the Emperor. According to the agreement, he was bidden to ask what gift he chose. "I ask for your sister, the Princess Matilda for my wife." The Emperor was both surprised and displeased, for Ehrenfried was scarcely a match for her, but his