Gertrud die Ältere von Braunschweig

Gertrude the Elder of Brunswick, also known as Gertrude of Egisheim, († 21 July 1077, buried in Brunswick Cathedral) donated together with her husband Liudolf of Brunswick the collegiate church of St. Blasius in Braunschweig and founded the later so-called Welfenschatz (Guelph Treasure). Life Gertrude's place and year of birth are unknown. She was married to Liudolf of Brunswick, Count in Derlingau and Gundigau, only son of Brun I, Count of Brunswick and his wife Gisela of Swabia. Gertrud outlived her husband by almost 40 years. They had four possibly five children: Brun(o), Ekbert I, Matilda, Ida (Irmingart) and possibly Agatha. Gertrud was considered educated. After coming to Brunswick, she first had her husband's residence Dankwarderode Castle structurally improved. In 1030, together with her husband, she donated the collegiate church of St. Blasius which was located immediately adjacent to the castle. The church of St. Blasius was the predecessor of the Brunswick Cathedral, built by Henry the Lion beginning in 1173. The monastery was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist and Saints Peter and Paul. The building was designed as a burial place of the Brunons. In addition, Gertrud donated some altar equipment which, as relics of the later cathedral, formed the basis of the Guelph treasure of future centuries. De Winter names four pieces that Gertrude probably commissioned: two large crosses (the so-called "Gertrudis Cross" and "Liudolf Cross", both created shortly after 1038), a supporting altar and the arm reliquary of St. Blaise. Only the arm reliquary is still in Brunswick today in the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, founded there in 1829. The object known as the "Gertrudistragaltar", on the other hand, was sold in 1930 and is in the Cleveland Museum of Art in the United States. There are also the two lecture crosses.