Matilda (Summer 979 – November 1025), was a member of the Ottonian dynasty, Countess Palatine of Lotharingia by marriage to Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia.
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Early life
Matilda was the third daughter of Emperor Otto II and Empress Theophanu. Shortly after her birth, Matilda was sent to Essen Abbey, where her paternal aunt Matilda was abbess. Matilda was educated here. It was presumed that Matilda would stay in the abbey and become an abbess like her older sisters Adelaide and Sophia.
Countess Palatine of Lotharingia
Matilda lived a different life from her two sisters; she was to marry Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia. According to the historian Thietmar of Merseburg, Matilda's brother, Emperor Otto III, did not like the idea of Matilda marrying at first. The family gave the couple large gifts to secure an adequate standard of living. Empress Theophanu consented to the marriage. Ezzo then took Matilda out of the abbey where she had lived. However, Abbess Matilda vainly refused to surrender the girl. Later romantic embellishments even claimed Ezzo had previously been secretly in love with the young Matilda.