Bertrade of Montfort

Bertrade of Montfort, born in the year one thousand sixty, was a prominent figure in the aristocracy of her time. Her life was marked by significant marital alliances, beginning with her first marriage to Fulk the Rude, which set the stage for her later prominence.

In a remarkable turn of events, Bertrade became the queen consort of France from one thousand ninety-two to one thousand one hundred eight through her initially bigamous marriage to King Philip I. This union, however, was met with condemnation in the ecclesiastical histories of her era, highlighting the complexities of her personal life and the societal norms of the time.

Beyond her controversial marriages, Bertrade played a notable role in the popularization of pigache footwear, a testament to her influence on fashion and culture. Additionally, she founded a daughter house of Fontevraud Abbey at Hautes-Bruyeres, contributing to the religious and cultural landscape of her time.