| Description |
xvi, 367 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 25 cm. |
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| Summary |
The remarkable, little-known story of two trailblazing women in the Early Middle Ages who wielded immense power, only to be vilified for daring to rule. Brunhild was a foreign princess, raised to be married off for the sake of alliance-building. Her sister-in-law Fredegund started out as a lowly palace slave. And yet, in sixth-century Merovingian France, where women were excluded from noble succession and royal politics was a blood sport, these two iron-willed strategists reigned over vast realms, changing the face of Europe. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 277-346) and index. |
| Contents |
A wedding in Metz -- Meeting the Franks -- The fall of Charibert -- New alliances -- A missive to Byzantium -- The slave queen -- All the king's men -- The siege -- The witch and the nun -- Back channels -- Uprising -- The laws of sanctuary -- Crime and punishment -- "Wise in counsel" -- Fredegund's grief -- Brunhild in the breach -- The regency -- Set ablaze -- Brunichildis Regina -- The King is dead -- The vexations of King Guntram -- The Gundovald affair -- The diplomatic arts -- The Dukes' revolt -- A royal engagement -- The defiant nuns -- Allies and assassins -- Forlorn little boys -- The fading of the kings -- The dual rule -- Brunhild's battles -- The fall -- Epilogue. Backlash. |
| Subject |
Brunehaut, Queen, consort of Sigebert, King of Austrasia, 534-613.
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Fredegund, Queen, consort of Chilperic I, King of Neustria, -597.
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Queens -- France -- Biography.
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Merovingians.
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France -- History -- To 987.
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| Genre |
Biographies.
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| ISBN |
9781801109161 (paperback) |
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1801109168 (paperback) |
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9781635574913 (hardcover) |
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1635574919 (hardcover) |
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