Background
Alruda's birth date is unknown. She was born in Italy, a member of the powerful Frangipani family.
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Alruda Frangipani
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On horseback Alruda Frangipani led an army that helped liberate Ancona from imperial siege in 1172. After losing her husband, Bertinorese count Rainier Cavalconte, Alruda afterwards ruled the city of Bertinoro for many years as regent for her children. Her court was elegant and refined. Alruda also had close ties with a female relative of the Eastern emperor Manuel Comnenus.
The port city of Ancona had come under the control of Comnenus and was a political threat to the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa. In 1172 or 1173 Ancona was subjected to a lengthy siege by Archbishop Christian of Mainz to prepare the way for an invasion by the Germans. The normally anti-imperial Venice sided with the archbishop against Ancona and blockaded the port. Bertinoro and Ferrara were both in the anitimperial Lombard/Romagnolo confederation that rallied to help its ally Ancona. Alruda led troops from Bertinoro, while Guglielmo di Bulgaro Marchesella degli Adelardi, of an important Guelf family, led forces from Ferrara. Alruda apparently harangued the troops before battle. Although combat was avoided, this encounter took on the aura of legend and has been compared to the Battle of Legnano (1176). It was an important victory for the papal supporters and for the doomed Eastern Roman Empire and testified to the growing strength of small localities versus the powerful Western emperor.
Achievements
Personality
Alruda bluffed the besieging army into withdrawing by a clever military strategy: her troops attached two or three torches to each lance and marched in a wide formation, giving the appearance of a much larger army.
Connections
Alruda was married to Bertinorese count Rainier Cavalconte. She was widowed in 1144.
