Ermengarde de Beaumont

Ermengarde de Beaumont (c. 1170 – 12 February 1233/1234) was Queen of Alba as the consort of William the Lion. She is reported to have exerted influence over the affairs of state as queen, though the information on her is lacking in detail. Her paternal grandmother was Constance FitzRoy, illegitimate daughter of Henry I of England.

Life Ermengarde was born c. 1170 to a minor French noble, Richard I, Viscount of Beaumont-le-Vicomte, Fresnay and Ste-Suzanne, and (died aft. 1217).

Ermengarde married King William I of Scotland at the royal chapel at Woodstock Palace, near Oxford, in England on 5 September 1186, performed by Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury. The marriage was arranged under terms of the Treaty of Falaise by King Henry II of England, who was at the time the acknowledged overlord of Scotland. William considered her status beneath him, but agreed after Henry offered to pay for the entire wedding, land valued at 100 merks and 40 knight's fees, and to return the castles that he had forfeited as her dowry, one of them being Edinburgh. As queen dowager, she devoted her time to the foundation of a Cistercian abbey at Balmerino in Fife. It was completed in 1229, and she often visited it as a guest with her son Alexander. She stayed at the abbey many times.

She died on 12 February 1233/1234, and was buried at St Edward of Balmerino Abbey, Fife. Married Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent Isabella of Scotland (1195–1253). Married Roger Bigod, 4th Earl of Norfolk. Alexander II of Scotland (1198–1249). Marjorie of Scotland (1200–1244). Married Gilbert Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke.