Gertrude of Merania

Gertrude of Merania
Gertrude and Andrew, Landgrafenpsalter, Thuringia, c. 1213
Queen consort of Hungary
Tenure	1205–1213
Born	c. 1185
Died	28 September 1213 (aged 27–28)
Spouse	Andrew II of Hungary
Issue	Anna Maria, Empress of Bulgaria Béla IV of Hungary Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Coloman of Lodomeria Andrew II of Halych
House	House of Andechs
Father	Berthold IV, Duke of Merania
Mother	Agnes of Rochlitz

Gertrude of Merania (1185 – 28 September 1213) was Queen of Hungary as the first wife of Andrew II from 1205 until her assassination. She was regent during her husband's absence.

She was the daughter of the Bavarian Count Berthold IV of Andechs, who had been elevated to the title Duke of Merania by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and his wife Agnes from the Saxon House of Wettin. Gertrude's elder sister was Agnes of Merania, a famous beauty, who married King Philip II of France. Her younger sister was St. Hedwig of Silesia, wife of the Piast duke Henry I the Bearded, the later High Duke of Poland. Their brother was Otto, who succeeded their father as Duke of Merania.

Her parents wanted their daughters to all make important political marriages, which would create alliances for Duke Berthold IV. Gertrude married the Árpád prince Andrew II, younger son of late King Béla III of Hungary, before 1203. Andrew thereby took sides in the conflict over the German throne, joining his father-in-law in his support of Duke Philip of Swabia, while his elder brother King Emeric of Hungary backed King Otto IV of Germany.