St. Adelaide

Born c.931 at Burgundy, France ; died 999 at the monastery of Seltz, Alsace; canonized in 1097 by Pope Urban II.The daughter of King Rudolph II of Burgundy she was promised in marriage when she was only two years old, to Lothaire, the son and heir of his enemy, Hugh of Provence.Lothaire was killed when still young and Adelaide was to have a tumultuous life that paralleled the struggle for political power of the times, something she had come to symbolize.Having been sought after by various kings and nobles, after Lothaire’s death, she was finally married by Otho the Great of Germany who had invaded Italy.When Adelaide and Otho’s son,  the Emperor Otho II died, his son Otho III, a child, became emperor. In 991, Adelaide was invested as the Regent of the Empire and she used her power as the effective empress to increase evangelization efforts, especially in northern Europe, built many monasteries and churches, and aided the poor.