Agnes of Meran (died 1201), queen of France, was the daughter of Bertold IV, duke of Meran in Tirol. She is called Marie by some of the chroniclers. In June 1196 she married Philip Augustus (Philip II), king of France, who had repudiated Ingeborg of Denmark in 1193. Pope Innocent III espoused the cause of Ingeborg; but Philip did not submit until 1200, when, 9 months after interdict had been added to excommunication, he consented to a separation from Agnes. She died in July of the next year, at the castle of Poissy, and was buried in the church of St. Corentin, near Nantes. Her two children by Philip II, Philip, count of Clermont (d. 1234), and Mary, who married Philip, count of Namur, were legitimized by the pope in 1201 at the request of the king. Little is known of the personality of Agnes, beyond the remarkable influence which she seems to have exercised over Philip II. She has been made the heroine of a tragedy by Francois Ponsard, Agnes de Meranie.
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed
