Queenship and Sanctity: The Lives of Mathilda and the Epitaph of Adelheid (Medieval Texts in Translation (Paperback))

At the dawn of the second millennium, authors from monasteries in Burgundy and northern Germany recorded the lives and deaths of two powerful and pious women, Mathilda (d. 968) and Adelheid (d. 999). Both were extolled as saints, exemplary figures guided by God and witnessing to His grace. Unlike most other holy women, however, Mathilda and Adelheid were not ascetic nuns, but queens. They were deemed worthy of praise not only for their devotion to God and their lives of faith, but for integrating these traditional virtues with more "worldly" attributes: noble birth, royal marriage, political power, and illustrious offspring. In turn, the saintly reputations of both women were used by their biographers to advance the interests not only of their own ecclesiastical communities, but of a new generation of secular rulers. Queenship and Sanctity brings together for the first time in English the anonymous Lives of Mathilda and Odilo of Cluny's Epitaph of Adelheid. Richly annotated, with an extensive introduction placing the texts and their subjects in historical and hagiographical context, it provides teachers and students with a crucial set of sources for the history of Europe (particularly Germany) in the tenth and eleventh centuries, for the development of sacred biography and medieval notions of sanctity, and for the life of aristocratic and royal women in the early Middle Ages. In addition, two appendices present contemporary accounts of Mathilda by the monk and historian Widukind of Corvey, and a survey of the evidence for Mathilda's ancestral ties to the legendary Saxon hero Widukind, whose defeat by Charlemagne in the late eighth century ultimately led to Saxony's assimilation into the Frankish church and kingdom. A useful resource for scholars of the period, yet accessible to non-specialists, Queenship and Sanctity is an engaging introduction to two fascinating women and the world they helped to create. At The Dawn Of The Second Millenium, Authors From Monasteries In Burgundy And Northern Germany Recorded The Lives And Deaths Of Two Powerful And Pious Women, Mathilda (d. 968) And Adelheid (d. 999). Both Were Extolled As Saints, Exemplary Figures Guided By God And Witnessing To His Grace. Unlike Most Other Holy Women, However, Mathilda And Adelheid Were Not Ascetic Nuns, But Queens. They Were Deemed Worthy Of Praise Not Only For Their Devotion To God And Their Lives Of Faith, But For Integrating These Traditional Virtues With More Worldly Attributes: Noble Birth, Royal Marriage, Political Power And Illustrious Offspring. In Turn, The Saintly Reputations Of Both Women Were Used By Their Biographers To Advance The Interests Not Only Of Their Own Ecclesiastical Communities, But Of A New Generation Of Secular Rulers.--book Jacket. The World Of Mathilda And Adelheid -- Ottonian Saxony -- Burgundy And Northern Italy -- Genealogical Tables -- The Liudolfings -- The Burgundian Rudolfings -- I. The Lives Of Mathilda And Adelheid -- Tenth-century Europe Queens And Queenship In The Early Middle Ages -- Ii. The Lives Of Mathilda And Adelheid -- Origins And Authorship -- Monasticism In The Lives And The Ea The Tradition Of Sacred Biography -- Tradition Remade : Marriage, Queenship, And Royal Sanctity -- Holy Mother : The Lives And The Politics Of Sanctity -- Holy Ruler : The Ea And The Sanctity Of Politics -- Afterlife -- Iii. The Translations -- The Older Life Of Queen Mathilda -- The Later Life Of Queen Mathilda -- Odilo Of Cluny, The Epitaph Of The August Lord Adelheid -- Appendix 1. Widukind Of Corvey On Queen Mathilda -- Appendix 2. Mathilda And The Stirps Widukindi. Translated With An Introduction And Notes By Sean Gilsdorf. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 199-211) And Index. Contents Preface Abbreviations Maps The World of Mathilda and Adelheid Ottonian Saxony Burgundy and Northern Italy Genealogical Tables The Liudolfings The Burgundian Rudolfings Introduction I.The Lives of Mathilda and Adelheid Europe in the Tenth Century Queens and Queenship in the Early Middle Ages II.The Lives of Mathilda and Adelheid Origins and Authorship Monasticism in the Lives and The Epitaph of Adelheid The Tradition of Sacred Biography Tradition Remade: Marriage, Queenship, and Royal Sanctity Holy Mother: The Lives and the Politics of Sanctity Holy Ruler: The Epitaph of Adelheid and the Sanctity of Politics Afterlife III. The Translations Translated Texts (Anonymous), The “Older Life” of Queen Mathilda (Anonymous), The “Later Life” of Queen Mathilda Odilo of Cluny, The Epitaph of Adelheid Translated Texts (Anonymous), The “Older Life” of Queen Mathilda (Anonymous), The “Later Life” of Queen Mathilda Odilo of Cluny, The Epitaph of Adelheid Appendices Appendix 1: Widukind of Corvey on Queen Mathilda (Res Gestae 1.31 and 3.74) Appendix 2: Mathilda and the Stirps Widukindi Appendix 3: Vestigia deosculari: St. Efrem, Bavaria, and the Vita Mathildis posterior Endnotes Bibliography Index