Bertrada of Laon

Imagine a queen from a long, long time ago! That was Bertrada of Laon. She was born sometime between the years 710 and 727.

That's so long ago, even your grandparents' grandparents weren't born yet! Bertrada was special because she was the very first queen of the Frankish people who belonged to a powerful family called the Carolingians. She was married to King Pepin the Short and was the mother of a very famous king named Charlemagne.

She was a big deal in her time!

Bertrada had a funny nickname: 'Bertha Broadfoot'! Some people think it's because her feet were a bit wider than usual, like a duck's feet. Another idea is that her feet were shaped like a goose's foot. Can you imagine a queen with a nickname like that? It's like calling someone 'Timmy the Tall' or 'Sarah the Speedy'. Even though it sounds funny, it's how people remembered her from so long ago.

Bertrada was not just a queen, she was also a super mom! She had many children, but three of them were very important: Charlemagne, Carloman, and Gisela. Her son, Charlemagne, grew up to be one of the most famous kings in history. He was like a superhero king who helped build a huge kingdom. Bertrada’s job as a mother was super important for making sure her children grew up to be strong leaders.

Even though Bertrada lived over 1,200 years ago, we still learn about her today! She was a queen who influenced what happened in her kingdom. Being the wife of a king and the mother of another famous king meant she was part of big decisions.

Her family, the Carolingians, became very powerful, and that changed the history of Europe. So, Bertrada was like a secret ingredient in making history happen!