The early life of Adelaide of Susa,…
1046 CE
The early life of Adelaide of Susa, born in Turin to Ulric Manfred II and Bertha some time between about around 1014 and 1020, is not well known.
Adelaide has two younger sisters, Immilla and Bertha.
She may also have had a brother, whose name is not known, who predeceased her father.
Thus, on Ulric Manfred's death in December 1033 or 1034, the great margraviate had been divided between his three daughters, though the greatest part by far went to Adelaide.
She had received the property in the counties of Turin, especially in the Susa Valley, Auriate, and Asti.
Adelaide had also inherited property, but probably not comital authority, in Albenga, Alba, Bredulo and Ventimiglia.
It is likely that Adelaide's mother, Bertha, briefly acted as regent for Adelaide after Ulric Manfred's death.
Since the margravial title primarily has a military purpose at this time, it was thus was not considered suitable for a woman.
Emperor Conrad II, had therefore arranged a marriage between Adelaide and his stepson, Herman IV in January 1037.
Herman was then invested as margrave of Turin.
Herman had died of the plague while fighting for Conrad II at Naples in July 1038.
Adelaide had remarried in order to secure her vast march.
Probably in 1041, and certainly before January 19, 1042, Adelaide had married Henry, Marquess of Montferrat.
Henry had died around 1045, leaving Adelaide a widow for the second time.
A third marriage is undertaken immediately, this time to Otto of Savoy.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the town of Turin had been conquered by the Lombards, then the Franks of Charlemagne in 773.
The Contea di Torino (countship) had been founded in the 940s, which is held by the Arduinic dynasty until 10546.
After the marriage of Adelaide of Susa with Humbert Biancamano's son Otto, the family of the Counts of Savoy gain control.