READING GUIDE FOR WEEK 3
A. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks (written c. 580 CE)
[Reader, Chapter 2]
Gregory of Tours was the bishop of the old Gallo-Roman city of Tours
[Tours was in the Roman province of Gaul, which we know today as France].
When the Roman Empire in the west collapsed in the late 5th century, Tours
and most of the rest of Gaul was occupied by a Germanic tribe called the
Franks. Gregory's family was of the old Roman aristocracy, and his
particular case proves the general rule that there was a high degree of
fusion between Roman and Germanic society - even though the Franks were
in charge, the Gallic aristocracy did not disappear overnight; indeed,
most of the bishops still came from that old Gallo-Roman aristocracy.
Gregory's History of the Franks is thus one of the most important sources
for the history of the fusion between Romans and Germans and for the creation
and nature of the post-Roman Germanic kingdoms. By the time of Gregory
of Tours, the kingdom of the Franks had been divided into sections, each
ruled by one of Clovis' grandsons: Charibert (d. 567), Guntram (d.
593), Sigibert (d. 575), and Chilperic (d.584). The passages that
I have given you record the stories of some of the queens of 6th century
Francia. Among the major figures are Fredegund, wife of King Chilperic,
and Brunhild, wife of King Sigibert; these two women were bitter enemies
and conducted feuds across Francia.
1. What was Frankish marriage like? Was it monogamous? What were
husbands and wives supposed to do?
2. What powers did Frankish queens have? What is a dowry? Why might
it be important?
3. Contrast the picture of royal life found in Gregory's text with
that found in the Life of Augustus. Has Rome fallen? Why? How has
kingship and government changed since the time of Augustus and Constantine?
4. Pay special attention to the scene in which Fredegund's young sons
fall ill. What is her reaction? What does she convince Chilperic
to do? Why is what he does significant?
5. Try to trace the course of the feud between Fredegund and Brunhild.
Who wins, if anyone?
6. What strikes you as familiar about the world of the Franks (if anything)?
What are the most bizarre things about the Franks? What do your answers
to these questions tell us about Frankish society?
7. What are the values of the Frankish aristocracy? About whom
or what do they care the most?
8. Are there certain activities or behaviors that Gregory finds typically
"female"? - that are typically "male"?
9. Do Frankish women have power? When? How? What sort of power?
How does class and marital standing affect the capacity of Frankish women
to exercise power?
B. Gregory of Tours: the Story of Ingitrude and Berthegund (Amt,
121-123)
1. What does Ingitrude have in mind for her daughter, Berthegund?
2. What does Gregory think of the women's behavior? How does he justify
his decision?
3. How is it that Berthegund obtains a divorce?
4. What does this story tell us about the workings of Frankish families?
5. What are the roles expected of bishops in this affair? Were bishops
outside of family politics?
6. How much of a public role do women play in this story? What limitations
are placed on them?
C. Dhuoda: Manual for her Son (841-843) [Amt, 123-129]
This text is justly famous as one of the first texts from the Early
Middle Ages written by a secular woman. Dhuoda wrote this work as
a manual of instruction for her son, William, who was living at the court
of the King of the Franks as a hostage for the good behavior of his father.
1. What prompted Dhuoda to write to William? How old was William when
this was written?
2. What does Dhuoda tell us about her marriage and married life? How
close is she to her husband? What does she do for him? What are the expectations
placed on her as wife? As mother?
3. What connection has Dhuoda had with her sons? How close are they?
Why?
4. What sort of advice or instruction does Dhuoda offer? Are the categories
of instruction "gendered" in any way?
SHORT WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Write 2 paragraphs
on 1 of the following (DUE 9/2/99)
1. Did Frankish women exercise power? If so, how, what sort, and under
what circumstances? If not, why not?
2. Contrast Frankish marriage practice with the ideas of early Christian
theologians such as Jerome or Augustine.