Born: Unknown (after 1120), Italy
Died: Unknown (after October 1173)
Country most active: Italy
Also known as: Aldrude
The following is excerpted from “Female Warriors: Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism, from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era,” by Ellen C. Clayton (Mrs. Needham), published in 1879 and shared online by Project Gutenberg.
The famous contest between the Guelfs and the Ghibelines, which for nearly three hundred years devastated Italy, broke out early in the twelfth century. The struggle was at first hardly more than a feud between two powerful families; but it soon developed into an obstinate war between two political parties—the Guelfs, who formed the papal and Italian party, and the Ghibelines, who favoured the German Emperors.
One of the leading events of this war was the siege of Ancona, in 1172, by the Archbishop of Mentz, Frederic Barbarossa’s deputy in Italy, backed by all the power of Ghibeline Tuscany. The citizens, reduced to the direst extremities, applied for aid to William degli Adelardi, a noble and influential citizen of Ferrara, and to the Countess de Bertinoro. Aldrude, the countess, who belonged to the illustrious house of Frangipani, has been immortalized by the Italian writers of those days, on account of her personal beauty, her generosity, and the magnificence of her court, which was the favourite resort of Italian chivalry, poetry, and art. She was married young to the Count de Bertinoro, who died, and left her a widow in the bloom of youth.
The Countess and Adelardi, with their combined forces, hastened to the relief of the beleaguered city, near which they arrived at sunset. Having pitched their camp on a hill overlooking the Ghibeline tents, the soldiers were assembled, and harangued with exciting speeches, which they received with loud applause, mingled with the clashing of arms. However, they gained a bloodless victory. The besiegers, alarmed at the strength of the foe, struck their tents, and retired under cover of night.
The famished Anconians, relieved from the presence of the imperial army, received a fresh stock of provisions. They came out to thank the countess and her ally, and offered them magnificent presents.
On her homeward march, the countess fell in with a party of retreating Ghibelines. Numerous skirmishes took place, in which the troops of Aldrude were uniformly victorious.
The date of this heroine’s death is unknown.
The following is excerpted from A Cyclopædia of Female Biography, published 1857 by Groomsbridge and Sons and edited by Henry Gardiner Adams.
Countess de Bertinoro, in Italy, of the illustrious house of Frangipani, is celebrated, by the writers of her time, for her beauty, magnificence, courtesy, and generosity. She was left a widow in the bloom of her youth, and her court became the resort of all the Italian chivalry. When Ancona was besieged by the imperial troops, in 1172, and was reduced to extremity, the Anconians appealed for assistance to William degli Adelardi, a noble and powerful citizen of Ferrara, and to the countess de Bertinoro, who immediately hastened to their relief.
The combined forces reached Ancona at the close of day, and encamped on a height which overlooked the tents of the besiegers. William then assembled the forces, and having harangued them, Aldrude rose and addressed the soldiers in a speech which was received by them with unbounded applause, mingled with the clashing of arms. The enemy, alarmed at the approach of so large a force, retreated during the night, so that the assailants had no opportunity of proving their bravery.
After this bloodless victory, the combined troops remained encamped near Ancona, till it was no longer endangered by the vicinity of its enemies, and until an abundant supply of provisions was brought into the city. The Anconians came out to thank their gallant deliverers, to whom they offered magnificent presents. Aldrude, with her army, on her return to her dominions, encountered parties of the retreating enemy, whom they engaged in skirmishes, in all of which they came off victorious. The time of her death is not recorded.