Women In Power In the Merovingian Anarchy

Abstract

The Merovingian period was one of great social, cultural, and political change in Gaul. The rapid conquest of the entirety of Gaul in the late fifth and early sixth centuries by the Franks created a fluid situation in the region. Roman influence, dominant for centuries, receded and the conquering people did not have the political or social structures available to replace it. A system of ad hoc governance, constant civil strife and violent autocracy flourished under the rule of the Merovingian family. It was in this uniquely powerful yet unstructured system that Merovingian queens came to prominence. The queens of the sixth century rose to a position unparalleled among contemporary states; and rarely matched in history. Queens came from diverse backgrounds and used a variety of techniques and tactics to gain and maintain their influence in the realm. Rich or poor, royal or common, the fluidity and lack of underlying societal expectations in the new kingdoms let any woman access power through ascension to the role of queen. The lack of limits on what a queen could do similarly allowed some women to push their potential to the absolute limit, with careers that spanned decades and fundamentally changed the Frankish state they came to dominate. This thesis will seek to answer the questions of how this unique structure of politics occurred and how Merovingian queens exploited it. It will also track their success, and the eventual decline of female power in the seventh century. By engaging with the most prominent women from the period a picture will be painted of the extraordinary talent and capacity of these women to move and act in public arenas where other women would have been condemned. By examining sources, both primary and secondary, this thesis will reveal how the role of these women has been understated and seek to reveal their true influence in the history of Merovingian Gaul.