Judith of Bavaria

Born around the turn of the ninth century, Judith became empress when she married Louis the Pious as his second wife. The marriage elevated her into the inner circle of the Carolingian court, where she bore two children: a daughter, Gisela, and a son, Charles the Bald. Charles' arrival triggered a dynastic crisis — his half-brothers from Louis' first marriage had already been promised the empire, and the sudden need to carve out a kingdom for the new heir ignited years of rebellion and civil war. Judith's influence waned after her son took power, eclipsed by his wife, Ermentrude of Orléans. Sh…