Historian Gelasius Dobner (1719–90) thought she was a princess of Burgundy, and this theory has been recently respected.

The latest research of historians and numismatists, however, indicate that she was of Italian-Burgundian origin and have identified her with Emma of Italy, widow of King Lothair of France (d. 986).

After her husband's death in 999 AD, Emma struck coins bearing her own name, labelling herself a queen.

Afraid of Boleslaus III, Emma chose to go into exile at the court of Bavaria in 1001 together with Dukes of Bohemia Oldřich and Jaromir.

The brothers sought military backing from the German King Henry II, definitively placing Bohemia within the jurisdiction of the Holy Roman Empire.