Boniface III, Margrave of Tuscany
Boniface III, son of Tedald of Canossa and the father of Matilda of Tuscany, was the most powerful north Italian prince of his age. By inheritance he was count of Brescia, Canossa, Ferrara, Florence, Lucca, Mantua, Modena, Pisa, Pistoia, Parma, Reggio, and Verona from 1007 and, by appointment, margrave of Tuscany from 1027 until his assassination in 1052.
Miniature of Boniface from the early twelfth-century manuscript of Donizo's Vita Mathildis (Codex Vat. Lat. 4922, fol. 28v.). The script down the side reads: Te redimat Sothér Bonifaci marchio duxque (May the Saviour redeem you Boniface, duke and margrave).
Matilda of Tuscany, also referred to as la Gran Contessa, was a member of the House of Canossa in the second half of the eleventh century. Matilda was one of the most important governing figures of the Italian Middle Ages. She reigned in a period of constant battles, political intrigues and Roman Catholic excommunications, and was able to demonstrate an innate and skilled strategic leadership capacity in both military and diplomatic matters.
Matilda of Tuscany and Hugh of Cluny as advocates of Henry IV
Adalbert-Atto of Canossa and his wife Hildegard surrounded by arches, and their sons Rudolph, Geoffrey (Gotofred) and Tedald at their feet. Donizo's Vita Mathildis (Vatican Library, Codex Vat. Lat. 4922, fol. 20v)
The states of the Apennine Peninsula in the second half of the 11th century.
Miniature of Matilda from the frontispiece of Donizo's Vita Mathildis (Vatican Library, Codex Vat. Lat. 4922, fol. 7v.). Matilda is depicted seated. On her right, Donizo is presenting her with a copy of the Vita Mathildis, on her left is a man with a sword (possibly her man-at-arms). The script underneath reads: Mathildis lucens, precor hoc cape cara volumen (Resplendent Matilda, please accept this book, oh you dear one.)
