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The Great Countess, also known as Matilda of Tuscany, was a powerful and influential figure in 11th-century Italy. She ruled over vast territories in Tuscany and northern Italy, and played a significant role in the Investiture Controversy, a conflict between the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor over the appointment of bishops. Matilda's strategic alliances and military prowess made her a formidable force in the political landscape of her time.