Background
Gertrude was named after her mother, Gertrude of Baden, the daughter of Herman III, Margrave of Baden. The birth date of May 1205 (or as late as mid-1206) often assigned to her is questionable, as her mother was then 52 years old.
Gertrude was named after her mother, Gertrude of Baden, the daughter of Herman III, Margrave of Baden. The birth date of May 1205 (or as late as mid-1206) often assigned to her is questionable, as her mother was then 52 years old.
A more plausible date is c. 1190. Gertrude succeeded her father as countess on his death in 1212, at which time she had already married Theobald, soon to be Duke of Lorraine (1213), according to the Vitæ Odiliæ. Their betrothal occurred in September 1205, possibly when she was an infant.
In 1222 Theobald repudiated her for either consanguinity (following Alberic of Trois-Fontaines) or sterility (according to Richer of Senones).
She was buried in the abbey of Sturzelbronn. Her husband inherited her county.
Gertrude is probably the Duchess of Lorraine who composed two lyric poems in Old French. One, Un petit devant le jour, is found in multiple sources, some with accompanying musical notation.
The other is found only in manuscript Companies of Honour-BEsu Mississippi 389, alongside Un petit devant.
They are numbered R1640 and R1995.
