Sophia of Gandersheim (c. 975–1039)
Sophia of Gandersheim (c. 975–1039)
Abbess of Gandersheim. Born in 975 or 978 in Germany; died in 1039 at abbey of Gandersheim, Germany; daughter of Otto II (955–983), Holy Roman emperor (r. 983–983), king of Germany (r. 973–983), and Theophano of Byzantium (c. 955–991); sister of Otto III (980–1002), Holy Roman emperor (r. 983–1002); never married; no children.
An imperial princess, Sophia of Gander-sheim was the daughter of the powerful Holy Roman empress Theophano of Byzantium . Like her sister Adelaide of Quedlinburg , Sophia left the royal palaces of her parents and entered a convent as a young girl. She showed a great piety early on, and became well respected for her deep devotion to God. After some years, Sophia became abbess of the large, powerful religious establishment at Gandersheim. Under her rule, Gandersheim increased its reputation as a place of great learning and became a popular refuge for wealthy German noblewomen.
Laura York , M.A. in History, University of California, Riverside, California