Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

Clothild at Prayer14-century  manuscript illumination of the Grandes Chroniques de France from

the Bibliotheque Nationale de France

New Kingdoms of the OldWestern Roman Empire

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

B. Women and the Family Under Frankish Law

"If anyone killed a free woman after she has begun bearing children, he shall be sentenced to 24,000 denars...After she can have no more children, he who kills her shall be sentenced to 8000 denars."

-Law of the Salian Franks, 24.6

Regarding a woman’s wergeld:

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

B. Women and the Family Under Frankish Law

C. Marriage and Divorce

King Lothar: “I sought a man wealthy & of good wit, whom I might give in marriage to thy sister, but I found none better than myself. Know therefore that I have taken her to wife, which I believe will not displease thee.”

Queen Ingund: “Let my lord do that which seemeth good in his sight; only let his handmaid [Ingund] live in the enjoyment of his favor.”

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

B. Women and the Family Under Frankish Law

C. Marriage and Divorce

III. Holy Women

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

B. Women and the Family Under Frankish Law

C. Marriage and Divorce

III. Holy Women

A. Holy Queens: Clothild and Radegund

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

B. Women and the Family Under Frankish Law

C. Marriage and Divorce

III. Holy Women

A. Holy Queens: Clothild and Radegund

B. Noble Holiness [Adelsheiligkeit]

Medieval Images of Radegund

Contextualizing Holy Women in the Early Middle Ages

I. After the Roman Empire: Christianity in the Frankish Lands

II. Women in Frankish Society

A. Germanic Law

B. Women and the Family Under Frankish Law

C. Marriage and Divorce

III. Holy Women

A. Holy Queens: Clothild and Radegund

B. Noble Holiness [Adelsheiligkeit]