Gisela of Bavaria (c. 975–1033)

Queen of Hungary. Name variations: Giselle or Grisela, Princess of Bavaria. Born around 975; died in 1033; daughter of Henry II the Wrangler (951–995), duke of Bavaria (r. 985–995), and Gisela of Burgundy (d. 1006); sister of Henry II (972–1024), Holy Roman emperor (r. 1002–1024); aunt of Agatha of Hungary ; married Stephen I (c. 975–1038), first king of Hungary (r. 1000–1038), in 1008 (some sources cite 995); children: eldest son St. Emeric (also known as Imre) died young (as did all her other children).

A Bavarian princess, Gisela of Bavaria was born around 975, the daughter of Henry II the Wrangler, duke of Bavaria, and Gisela of Burgundy . She married Stephen I, king of Hungary, around 1008, though some sources cite 995. Stephen was faced with great problems as he began the task of organizing, defending, and Christianizing his nation and bringing it into the European fold. One such problem was the revolt of a cousin, Koppàny, who ruled in Transylvania. Koppàny had claimed not only the throne, but the hand of Stephen's widowed mother Sarolta . Immediately moving against him, Stephen eventually defeated Koppàny, executing him in 1003. Then another Magyar—known only by the title Gyula—claimed the rule in Transylvania and usurped it. He, too, was disposed of by the new king Stephen, who was actively supported by German knights in the service of his wife and queen, Gisela.

Their only son Emeric, who enjoyed a reputation for virtue and valor, died in what has been reported as a hunting accident (killed by a "wild boar"). But Stephen Sisa, in his book The Spirit of Hungary, alleges that the death was a successful assassination attempt by the Thonuzoba family, who were resisting conversion to Christianity. Because he had led an exemplary life and was well loved by the Hungarian peoples who had accepted Christianity, Emeric was canonized in the late 11th century, at about the same time as his father. Gisela died in 1033.