Career
She was the second wife of Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, and as such Holy Roman Empress. Beatrice was active at the Hohenstaufen court, encouraging literary works and chivalric ideals. She was crowned Holy Roman Empress by Antipope Paschal III in Rome on 1 August 1167, and later as Queen of Burgundy at Vienne in August 1178.
The poem Carmen de gestis Frederici I imperatoris in Lombardia, written about 1162, describes Beatrice upon her wedding day: "Venus did not have this virgin"s beauty, Minerva did not have her brilliant mind And Juno did not have her wealth.
There never was another except God"s mother Mary And Beatrice is so happy she excels her." Beatrice is a character in Umberto Eco"s novel Baudolino, whose (fictional) protagonist is deeply in love with her - a love never consummated except for a single kiss.
