Talk:Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou

Name

In the majority of primary sources she is referred to only as Adelaide (some Latin version of it anyway) or Blanche (some Latin version of it anyway) and, to my knowledge, she is never referred to as Adelaide-Blanche in any source. In secondary sources it is common (I think the most common, but cannot prove it) to refer to her only as "Adelaide of Anjou", although some prominent historians use "Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou" since certain primary sources make clear that she was called both Adelaide and Blanche. Now, at least one source (Pierre de Maillezais) does not say cognomento Blancha, but rather cognomento Candida, that is, a Latin translation of Blancha, meaning "white". I do not say, although Kate Norgate has said it, that she was called "Adelaide the White", but it remains a possibility that she was and in any case that she was "Adelaide-Blanche" is speculation, or at best a historiographic convenience. All this should be made clear. Srnec (talk) 00:49, 4 July 2012 (UTC)

This should be mentioned, especially the part about Kate Norgate. I always thought the Blanche meant white.--The Emperor's New Spy (talk) 19:57, 5 July 2012 (UTC)

As of this writing note (a) now shows the various forms of her name, Adelaide, Adelaide-Blanche, and Blanche, all of which are encompassed in her current name; the same she was addressed as in a contemporary letter dated to 1016 by Pope Benedict VIII. Kate Norgate mentioned her more than once in Volume I, and, it is notable that she also cites chronicles where she is called "Blanche", not "White". All names have meaning if translated to their root. My own given name means 'good'. Thomas yours means 'twin.' We know from Prof. Bachrach that at least some Angevin daughters were given two names and there are good examples in her daughter Tota-Adelaide and her niece Ermengarde-Gerberga. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, as the note says, Adelaide-Blanche is her preferred name among leading modern historians; I could add widely quoted modern historians as well. I think the note as it is currently addresses the major variants of her name and ties it together. Bearpatch (talk) 00:03, 6 July 2012 (UTC)

That's fine, but I don't think you've shown that Adelaide-Blanche was her name. I think we should be careful to distinguish a person who has two names from a person with a double name. My point is that she is Adelaide-Blanche only for the convenience of historians. There's nothing wrong with that, but it ought to be clearer. Srnec (talk) 03:26, 6 July 2012 (UTC)

Fifth husband

There seems to be doubt if the fifth marriage ever occurred. --The Emperor's New Spy (talk) 05:18, 5 July 2012 (UTC)

That is acknowledged and answered in note (at this time lettered (c)). It is known his second wife was named Adelaide and in the letter from the Pope, she is addressed as Adelaide-Blanche. Follow up on the cited article for more information; available through JSTOR or you can order a copy from your library. Bearpatch (talk) 23:59, 5 July 2012 (UTC)

Angevin daughter

Is it true that "Angevins were known to give daughters two names" or are you just connecting two coincidences/historical misrepresentation and calling it fact? Does a book actually attest to this assumption that giving two names was a family practice? --The Emperor's New Spy (talk) 06:06, 21 July 2012 (UTC)

see: Talk:Ermengarde-Gerberga. Bearpatch (talk) 15:34, 21 July 2012 (UTC)