A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Bertha, widow of Eudes, Count de Blois
BERTHA,
Widow of Eudes, Count de Blois, married Robert the Pious, King of France. She was a relation of his, and he had been godfather to one of her children. These obstacles, then very powerful, did not prevent the king from marrying her. A council assembled at Rome in 998, and ordered Robert to repudiate Bertha, which he refused to do; the terrible sentence of excommunication was pronounced against him, and he was at length obliged to yield. Bertha retired to an abbey and devoted herself to pious works. Her title of queen was always given to her, and the king continued to show her constant proofs of affection and respect.