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Queen Judith (807 – 19 April 843), also known as Judith of Bavaria, was the daughter of Count
Early Life
Date and Place of Birth
No surviving sources provide a record of Judith’s exact date and year of birth. Yet, we can deduce that Judith was born in or before 807 given that girls in the
Kin group/Ancestry
Judith was the daughter of the noble
Marriage and Queenship
Courtship by Louis
After the death of Louis first wife and mother of his sons,
Marriage
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Judith married Louis in 819 in Aachen. It was not uncommon that brides were given some form of dowry upon marrying into royalty. Judith’s marriage was no exception to this practise and she received, according to soucres, The Kloster San Salvatore, which was located in Brescia (in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy). The monastery of San Salvatore and all the assets that fall under its jurisdiction, would fall under the protection with the protection of the King "laut der vorgelegten urkunde seines vaters k. Karl immunität mit königschutz und den in dessen gewere stehenden besitz" [5]. Although, according to modern sources, the dowry was indicative that the marriage was in fact a “Vollehe”, it did not mean that the dowry was static, insofar that it would remaine solely within the possession of the Queen in perpetuity; rather it could be taken from her depending on the political climate, as would later be the case in Judith’s life, after her fall from power and influence [1].
Coronation
In later Carolingian societies the act of coronation was closely tied with the marriage. It was only upon the completion of the marriage that queenhood and thus legitimacy was bestowed. When Louis married his first wife
Role in the Palace
Historical sources show a gap in information available on Judith in the 4 years between her marriage in 819 and the birth of Charles in 823. The most likely cause of this gap is that Judith's would only rise to historical prominence when she became involved in her sons,
It is not unlikely that, in order to complete these tasks, Judith would have had her own court personnel. This was not an uncommon phenomenon, it having existed according to sources since the time of the
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Children
Judith had two children with Louis. Her first child was a daughter named Gisela, born in 820. Gisela would eventually be married off by Judith to Eberhard of Friaul, a significant supporter of Lothar. Gisela was the mother of Berengars I [5]. .
After having spent most of her second pregnancy in Frankfurt, she had another child named Charles, who was born on June 13th, 823. More commonly known as “Charles the Bald”, he would eventually become emperor, following in the footsteps of his father Louis. The birth of Charles’ had a significant effect on Judith’s life, because Charles was the only male heir of Louis’ second marriage. His birth put the ordinatti imperii and its designations for successor under question. The ordinatti imperii outlined that only a full heir could rule, but since there were several viable candidates that met the requirements, (mainly Lothar, Peppin and Louis the German from the marriage to Ermengard and Charles from the marriage to Judith) an eventual strain on rightful succession was inevitable. Consequently, it became of the utmost importance for Judith to secure the throne for her son and protect him from the attacks and threats that his half-brothers posed. Lothar, being the most prominent and the oldest of Ermengard children, presented the greatest threat to Judith and Charles. Yet, realizing this, Judith selected Lothar as Charles’ godfather. This strategic move meant Charles would have a political tie in the eventual disputes succession that would inevitably follow Louis’ death.
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The Civil War
Imperial succession and partition: Charles's role
Sources tell us that on the 9th of April 817 a timber roof collapsed on Louis and his men in Aachen. The event, we are told, shocked Louis and lead the emperor to reconsider the distribution of his power and succession for his heirs. The ordinatio Imperii was a reconfiguration and re-imagining of in the division of Charlemagne’s inheritance, which he had always envisioned but never fully implemented. The ordinatio imperii stated that Louis oldest son Lothar would become co-emperor upon the death of Charlemagne, and would receive the whole of Frankia. It also stated that Lothar’s younger brothers, Pippin, aged 19, and Louis the German, aged 10, would inherit Aquitaine and Bavaria respectively (the ''regna'' ).
A major sticking point that concerned Lothar was Louis’ nineteen year old nephew Bernard of Italy getting in the way of his eventual rise to power. Bernard had been ruling Italy since 810. Yet, the ordinatio imperii did not specify Bernard as the immediate successor and continued ruler of Italy. Consequently Bernard, alarmed by the fact that his future inheritance at stake, rose up against Louis. The rebellion was swiftly quelled by Louis’ forces. Bernard was blinded and would eventually die on April 17th 818 [6]
The birth of Charles as well as Lothar’s marriage in 821 meant that two imperial households were now vying for control [6]. Thus, the strain over how to interpret the ordinatio imperii coupled with the fact that Judith would most likely outlive her husband, meant that it became imperative for Judith to establish a political base of her own, not only for her own safety and the continuation of her queenship, but also for the safety of her son.
In a letter written by
And thus you carried out everything that should have been done in such a situation, with such faith, with such hope, that no one would doubt that this was infused and inspired in you by God. You assigned parts of your kingdom to the rest of your sons but – that the kingdom might be one and not three – you set [the son] whom you made the sharer in your title, over the others. And then you ordered these actions to be written down and, once written, to be signed and corroborated. Then, you sent [the son, Charles] who had been made consort in your title to Rome, your deeds to be approved and confirmed by the highest pontiff. Then you ordered all to swear that they would all follow and preserve such an election and division. No one considered this oath irrelevant or worthy of scorn but rather timely and legitimate, since it seemed to pertain to peace and concord. And over the course of time, whenever and wherever imperial letters were sent, they contained the names of both emperors.
— Agobard of Lyons
Judith as advocate for Charles
Most information on Judith surrounds the activities for her son and her attempts to ensure his succession to the throne. Their political futures depended on each other being that if Judith were widowed, her future as an empress could potentially be threatened by stepsons that no longer had familial or political concerns for her wellbeing [7]. Outlined in a letter to Pope Nicholas 1 Judith, upon Charles’s birth, sent a ring to Eboo, the archbishop of Rheims, asking him to pray for the health of Charles, but also promising that if he ever sent the ring back to her in times of trouble she would help him [1]. Politically this move is significant given that Eboo was one of the most powerful people in the land and a “milkbrother” and friend of Louis [1]. This marks a distinct effort on the part of Judith to bolster her influence and secure the political future of her son.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Steuben_-_Charles_the_Bald.jpg/250px-Steuben_-_Charles_the_Bald.jpg)
The poem by a court poet Ermoldus Nigellus, Poem in Honor of Louis, provides insight into Judith’s influence over her son Charles. The scene describes Judith and Charles interacting while Louis goes on a hunt:
Judith, who has with her the young Charles; In a twinkling she passes by, placing her faith in her feet--If flight does not give her aid, surely she will perish.Seeing this, the young Charles begs for a horse,For he desires to do as his father does;Earnestly he pleads for weapons, for a quiver and quick-striking arrows,And wishes to go in pursuit, as his father so often does.He pours prayers upon prayers, but his beautiful motherPrevents him from leaving, and refuses his wishes.If his teacher and his mother do not restrain the impetuous youth (As youths are wont to do), he shall chase after on foot
— Ermoldus Nigellus, Agobard of Lyons
Not only does this highlight Judith’s role as an influential force in Charles’ life, but it also establishes an ambitious young Charles as a son that follows in the footsteps of his father Louis-- which aligns Charles as the natural heir to Louis throne.
Later on Charles is showcased in procession in a collection of poetry by
The three sons of Louis the Pious revolted against their father in order to control the ordering of the Carolingian succession.It was Judith’s dominance and control of the court, thereby being able to dictate who saw Louis and influence him, that was the focus of their revolt. In order to seize control of the king and consequently the Carolingian succession they had to replace the current court, controlled by Judith, with their own. Judith was accused of having an incestiouse realtionship with Louis the Pious’s godson Bernard of Septimania (who was the lynchpin of her court). This led to her capture and exile to Italy at the nunnery of Saint Radegund in 830. After the crisis she returned to Aachen continued her effort to see that Charles would take control [2].
Given Judith’s role in court and her rise in power, especially in the waning year of Louis life, the political ties that Judith had built in court became the political ties of Charles. These included, amongst others,
Several marriages in 839 sought to solidify a future for Charles and an entenete with Lothar. The first was the marriage of Gisele, the daughter of Louis and Judith, to Eberhard, the duke of Friuli, who was a leading supporter of Lothar. A second such marriage was that between Judith’s brother Conrad with Adelaide, Lothar’s sister in law[6].
Judith also collaborated with the magnates that worked on the will of Louis in order to promote Charles. Fearing that Louis would pass before the matter was settled and thereby incur the wrath of his step brothers, Judith advised that Louis take to his aid one of his three sons (Pippin, Lothar or Louis) in order to unite Charles and one of the brothers in mutual interest should a revolt to happen after Louis death[6].
After Louis death Judith helped and assisted Charles in his campaigns against Lothar. She sent troops to assist Charles in his endeavour to secure Aquitaine and the majority of Frankia was to reduce the number of competitors [6]. Judith however did have influence over her son Charles. When archbishop George was taken prisoner after a battle in which 40,000 men fell on the side of Lothar and Pippin, Judith counselled Charles to be merciful towards the archbishop, which Andreas Agnellus of Ravenna recalled as For my part I’ll let you go-as my mother tells me to [6].
Scandals: Contemporary criticisms of Judith's role and behavior
However, the rise of Judith’s power, influence and activity in the court did sparked resentment towards her. Agobard of Lyons , a supporter of Lothar, wrote two tracts Two Books in Favor of the Sons and against Judith the Wife of Louis in 833. These tracts were meant as propaganda against Judith from the court of Lothar in order to undermine her court and influence. The tracts themselves attack her character, claiming her to be of a cunning and underhanded nature and of corrupting her husband. These attacks were predominantly anti feminist in nature. When Louis still did not sever marital ties with Judith, Agobard claimed that Judith’s extramarital affairs were carried out “first secretly and later impudently” [4]. Paschasis Radbertus accused Judith by associating her with the engagement in debauchery and witchcraft. of filling the palace with “soothsayers... seers and mutes as well as dream interpreters and those who consult entrail, indeed all those skilled in malign craft”
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Judith_of_Bavaria.jpg)
Characterized as a jezeble and a Justina, Judith was accused by one of her enemies, Paschasius Radberus, of engaging in debauchery and witchcraft with her puported lover, Count Bernard of Septimania, Louis’ chamberlain and trusted adviser. This portrayal and image stands in contrast to poems about Judith [2]. The poems depict her as “a second biblical Judith, a Mary sister of Aaron in her musical abilities, a Saphho, a prophetess, cultivated, chaste, intelligent, pious, strong in spirit, and sweet in conversation” [2]
However, Judith also garnered devotion and respect.
Likewise, O queen, forever keep your eyes of your heart fixed upon Queen Esther as a model of dutiful and holy behaviour so that by equalling her holiness you might be able to climb from this earthly kingdom to the heights of the heavenly kingdom
— Hrabanus Maurus
Disgrace and exile
Judith was left alone in 830 in Aachen, as Louis decided to undertake a campaign into the Brittany. The campaign itself, however, was greatly opposed, because of its difficulties. (The Annals of St Bertin). Some of the magnates attempted to alter the attitudes of the people and turn them against Louis. The plot was to dispose of the Louis the Pious, “to destroy their stepmother and kill Bernard” [6].
Prior to Easter Week in 830 (17-24 April) Pippin, with Lothars consent, and with a large proportion of the people “ took away from the Emperor his royal power, and also his wife”. Judith was veiled (“the female equivalent of tonsuring rival claimants to the throne” [6] and sent to the convent of St- Radegund at Poitiers in the same year.
At an assembly held on the October 1st at Nijmegen, between the Emperor, the Saxons and East Franks, it was adjudged , by “all the bishops, abbots, counts and other Franks” that Judith, even though she was taken unjustly, should be brought back and made to either stand trial for any crime she may have committed to “undergo the judgment of the Franks” [6]
in 831, around the 1st of February Judith stood trial at the assembly arranged by the Lord Emperor. At the assembly she “declared her willingness to purge herself on all the charges levelled against her”. No one was found in the general assembly who wanted to charge her for any crime. She purged herself, by the customs of the Franks, of all the things that she had been accused of. [6]
Later life
Louis' restoration to the throne and Judith's return
In 833 Louis heard news of his sons, Pippin, Lothar and Louis the German, allying in order to orchestrate a revolt against him. Louis, however, failed to prevent the revolt and was overthrown, resulting in Lothar seizing power
Death of Louis and Judith's career as widow
Louis died in 840 at his palace in
Death
Charles married Ermentrude in 842 and fathered a daughter in 844, which he named “Judith” after his mother. This marriage, however, proved futile for Judith’s career, power and influence. With the introduction of a new queen Judith became of ex officio importance, resulting in her forced retirement as well as withdrawal of the lands and wealth under her control. She would eventually die on the 19th of April 843 in Tours, outliving her husband by three years. It is believed that she was around 40 years of age when she passed, compared to her husband who at the time of his death, was closer to 62 [2]. She was buried at the Basilica of St-Martins [1].
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Koch, Armin. Kaiserin Judith: Eine Politische Biographie. Husum: Matthiesen, 2005. Print.
- ^ a b c d e f Stafford, Pauline. Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages. London, Leicester UP, 1998. Print.
- ^ a b Rogers, Barbara, Bernhard W. Scholz, and Nithardus. Carolingian Chronicles, Royal Frankish Annals Nithard’s Histories. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan, 1972. Print.
- ^ a b Wemple, Suzanne Fonay. Women in Frankish Society: Marriage and the Cloister, 500 to 900. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1981. Print.
- ^ a b c d RI I n. 683a, in: Regesta Imperii Online, URI: http://www.regesta-imperii.de/id/0819-02-00_1_0_1_1_0_1610_683a. Cite error: The named reference "Regasta" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Nelson, Janet L. Charles the Bald. London: Longman, 1992. Print. Cite error: The named reference "Nelson" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Elizabeth Ward: Caesar's Wife. The Career of the Empress Judith 819–829. In: Peter Goodman, Roger Collins. Print.
- ^ Ermoldus Nigellus, Poem in Honor of Louis, Sean Gilsdorf.
- ^ a b c Hrabanus Maurus (856), Dedicatory letter to the Expositio in librum Judith (in Migne, Patrologia latina, vol. 109; transl. Sean Gilsdorf.
- ^ a b Nelson, Janet L. The Annals of St-Bertin. Manchester: Manchester UP, 1991. Print.
Sources
- Hrabanus Maurus (856), Dedicatory letter to the Expositio in librum Judith (in Migne, Patrologia latina, vol. 109; transl. Sean Gilsdorf
- Agobard of Lyons: On the Division of the Empire (to Louis the Pious) c. 830
- Nelson, Janet L. The Annals of St-Bertin. Manchester: Manchester UP, 1991. Print. p. 21-24 (830-831), 27 (833), 29-30 (834)
- Koch, Armin. Kaiserin Judith: Eine Politische Biographie. Husum: Matthiesen, 2005. Print. p.26, 27, 28, 35, 37, 39, 44, 77, 130
- Rogers, Barbara, Bernhard W. Scholz, and Nithardus. Carolingian Chronicles, Royal Frankish Annals Nithard’s Histories. Ann Arbor: Univ. of Michigan, 1972. Print. p. 105 (819), 149 (841)
- Stafford, Pauline. Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages. London, Leicester UP, 1998. Print. p. 18, 19, 20, 93, 94 130, 145, 166, 180
- Depreux, Philippe. Prosopographie De L'entourage De Louis Le Pieux (781-840). Sigmaringen: Thorbecke, 1997. Print.
- Elizabeth Ward: Caesar's Wife. The Career of the Empress Judith 819–829. In: Peter Goodman, Roger Collins p. 214
- Wemple, Suzanne Fonay. Women in Frankish Society: Marriage and the Cloister, 500 to 900. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1981. Print. p. 80, 90
- Nelson, Janet L. Charles the Bald. London: Longman, 1992. Print.p.74-75 (818), 93, 98, 100, 116, 119
- Lupus, and Graydon W. Regenos. The Letters of Lupus of Ferrières. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1966. Print.
- Regesta Imperii: http://www.regesta-imperii.de
- Ermoldus Nigellus, Poem in Honor of Louis, Sean Gilsdorf
- Geneviève Bührer-Thierry, The Adulterous Queen, Translated by Sean Gilsdorf from Geneviève Bührer-Thierry, "La reine adultère," Cahiers de civilisation médiévale 35 (1992): 299-312. Translations of original texts follow those made by Bührer-Thierry
External links
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Category:805 births
Category:843 deaths
Category:Carolingian dynasty
Category:Holy Roman Empresses
Category:Elder House of Welf
Category:Frankish women
Category:Medieval women
Category:Frankish queens consort
Category:Burgundian queens consort