Bertha, Duchess of Lorraine
Bertha of Lorraine (or Bertha of Swabia) (b.c. 1123/30 – d. 1194/5) was a member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. She was the daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Swabia and, through marriage to Matthias I duke of Lorraine, she was duchess of Lorraine (c.1138-1176). Family. Bertha (sometimes called Judith) was the daughter of Frederick II, Duke of Swabia and Judith of Bavaria (1103- 22 February 1131), daughter of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria. Through her father, Bertha was a member of the Hohenstaufen dynasty: her paternal uncle was king Conrad III and her brother was the  future emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Bertha married Matthias of Lorraine c.1138. Bertha frequently issued charters alongside her husband. She used at least two different types of seal to authenticate her documents, on which she was riding astride on horseback, which was a highly unusual image for a medieval noblewoman to use. After the death of Matthias in 1176, Bertha issued documents with her son, Simon, who succeeded his father as duke of Lorraine. Marriage and issue. With Matthias I, Bertha had several children, including: