'Bertrada of Laon', also called Bertha with the big feet or Bertha Broadfoot, (
720 –
July 12,
783) was a
Frankish queen. She was born in
Laon, in today's
Aisne, France, the daughter of
Caribert of Laon and
Bertrade of Cologne. She married
Pippin III (Pippin the Short) in 740. Of her children with Pippin, two sons and one daughter survived to adulthood;
Charles (Charlemagne),
Carloman, and
Gisela. Charlemagne and Carloman inherited the two halves of their father's kingdom when he died, and Gisela became a
nun.
Bertrada lived at the court of her elder son Charles, and according to
Einhard their relationship was excellent. She recommended he marry his first wife, a daughter of the
Lombard king
Desiderius whose name was possibly
Gerperga, but he soon divorced her. Einhard claims this was the only episode that ever strained relations between mother and son. Bertrada lived with Charlemagne until her death in 783; the king buried her in
Saint Denis Basilica with great honors.