Ida of Lorraine (1040–1113)

Saint and countess of Boulogne. Name variations: Ida of Lower Lorraine; Ida of Brabant. Born in 1040; died in 1113; daughter of Doda and Godfrey II the Bearded, duke of Lower Lorraine (r. 1065–1069); sister of Godfrey III the Hunchback (d. 1076); was the second wife of Eustace II (d. 1093), count of Boulogne (r. around 1057); children: many, including Godfrey, duke of Bouillon and king of Jerusalem (r. 1099–1100); Baldwin I, count of Edessa and king of Jerusalem (r. 1100–1118); Eustace III of Boulogne (who married Mary of Atholl [d. 1116]); and possibly a daughter who married Henry IV, king of Germany (though she would not be either of his known wives, Bertha of Savoy and Adelaide of Kiev ). Eustace II's first wife was Godgifu (c. 1010–c. 1049).

Ida of Lorraine was born in 1040, the daughter of Doda and Godfrey II the Bearded, duke of Lower Lorraine. At age 17, she married Eustace II, count of Boulogne; both were descendants of Charlemagne. It was a good marriage, though Eustace had first married Godgifu around 1036. Two of Ida's three sons became kings of Jerusalem; a daughter (name unknown) possibly married Henry IV, king of Germany.

Ida of Lorraine was extremely pious; her spiritual counselor St. Anselm, then abbot of Bec, sometimes visited her from Normandy or often wrote uplifting letters. Ida, who gave much of her considerable wealth to charity, enjoyed making fine ornaments for altars. Following the death of her husband in 1093, she sold all her disposable goods to found and endow religious institutions. Ida died in 1113 and was buried at the abbey of Vasconvilliers, near Boulogne. Her feast day is April 13.