Individual Details
Gertrud von Meran
(1175 - 28 Sep 1213)
Gertrud was born about 1185, the daughter of Berthold VI von Andechs, duke of Meran and Dalmatia, and Agnes von Nieder-Lausitz. Her sister Agnés, a famous beauty, married King Philippe II August of France. Another sister Hedwig, married to Henryk I 'the Bearded', Herzog von Schlesien und Krakau, was canonised as St. Hedwig of Meran.
Before 1203 Gertrud married Andras II, son of Béla III, king of Hungary, and his second wife Agnes of Antioch. Andras succeeded his father as king of Hungary in 1205. They had five children of whom Béla IV, Elisabeth and Maria would have progeny. Béla IV would succeed his father, Elisabeth became the wife of Ludwig IV 'der Heilige', Landgraf von Thüringen, and be canonised as St. Elisabeth of Hungary, and Maria became the wife of Iwan Asen II, tsar of Bulgaria.
Gertrud had made herself hated by her frequent interferences in Hungary's politics, supporting German influence, and by her greed. On 24 September 1213 when her husband was at war, she was murdered by Hungarian noblemen. Due to the political situation at the time most of her murderers remained unpunished during the rule of Andras. However Gertrud's son Béla IV took revenge on them after he became king. Gertrud is the main character in Ferenc Erkel's opera _Bánk bán,_ based on a stage play of the same title by József Katona. Bánk, a nobleman who was bán (viceroy) of King Andras in Croatia and Slavonia, and palatine of Hungary in 1213, joined the conspiracy that led to the murder of Gertrud, though his precise role in the deed is unclear. He was seen as a man of state who was torn between loyalty to his king and loyalty to his compatriots, who were incensed by the German queen's prodigality and the growing influence of her entourage.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Before 1203 Gertrud married Andras II, son of Béla III, king of Hungary, and his second wife Agnes of Antioch. Andras succeeded his father as king of Hungary in 1205. They had five children of whom Béla IV, Elisabeth and Maria would have progeny. Béla IV would succeed his father, Elisabeth became the wife of Ludwig IV 'der Heilige', Landgraf von Thüringen, and be canonised as St. Elisabeth of Hungary, and Maria became the wife of Iwan Asen II, tsar of Bulgaria.
Gertrud had made herself hated by her frequent interferences in Hungary's politics, supporting German influence, and by her greed. On 24 September 1213 when her husband was at war, she was murdered by Hungarian noblemen. Due to the political situation at the time most of her murderers remained unpunished during the rule of Andras. However Gertrud's son Béla IV took revenge on them after he became king. Gertrud is the main character in Ferenc Erkel's opera _Bánk bán,_ based on a stage play of the same title by József Katona. Bánk, a nobleman who was bán (viceroy) of King Andras in Croatia and Slavonia, and palatine of Hungary in 1213, joined the conspiracy that led to the murder of Gertrud, though his precise role in the deed is unclear. He was seen as a man of state who was torn between loyalty to his king and loyalty to his compatriots, who were incensed by the German queen's prodigality and the growing influence of her entourage.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1175 | ||||
| Marriage | Bef 1203 | Andras II King of Hungary | |||
| Death | 28 Sep 1213 | Murdered |
Families
| Spouse | Andras II King of Hungary (1176 - 1235) |
| Child | Béla IV King of Hungary (1206 - 1270) |
| Child | St. Elisabeth of Hungary (Erzsébet) (1207 - 1231) |
| Father | Berthold VI von Andechs Duke Meran and Dalmatia (1153 - 1204) |
| Mother | Agnes von Nieder-Lausitz ( - 1195) |
| Sibling | St. Hedwig von Meran (1174 - 1243) |