Swabia, located west of Bavaria and similar in size, formed following the fall of the western Roman Empire during the late 400s as an amalgamation of various tribes that became a major duchy of the Holy Roman Empire as did Bavaria. Swabia existed for over 1,000 years, then was disassembled, destroyed by Napoleon’s army in the early 1800s. During the eleventh century, a daughter of the Duke and Duchess, Gisele, became the most remarkable woman of the High Middle Ages.  Described historically as “exceptionally beautiful”, as was her older sister, Mathilde, and her younger sister, Beatrix, theirs were traits of beauty from their mother, Royal Princess Gerberga of Burgundy.  Mathilde and Gisele grew from childhood with deep affection for each other in their privileged world of high royalty.  Mathilde was married at age 13, Gisele at 12, as was the custom of the time when daughters in marriage were the means with which political differences between and among families were resolved or strengthened. Entanglements involving Mathilde and Gisele found their way entwined for generations after them, although their story alone is the stuff of Hollywood:  war, murder, political intrigue, tragedies, lost loves.  Mother of nine, Gisele became Queen of Germany, Queen of Italy, and Queen of Burgundy, then rose to Empress of the Holy Roman Empire with her third husband, the Emperor, Konrad II.