The Divorce of King Lothar and Queen Theutberga: Hincmar of Rheims's De Divortio (Manchester Medieval Sources) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 071908296X ISBN 13: 9780719082962

Publisher: Manchester University Press, 2016

Synopsis

In the mid-ninth century, Francia was rocked by the first royal divorce scandal of the Middle Ages: the attempt by King Lothar II of Lotharingia to rid himself of his queen, Theutberga and remarry. Even 'women in their weaving sheds' were allegedly gossiping about the lurid accusations made. Kings and bishops from neighbouring kingdoms, and several popes, were gradually drawn into a crisis affecting the fate of an entire kingdom. This is the first professionally published translation of a key source for this extraordinary episode: Archbishop Hincmar of Rheims's De divortio Lotharii regis et Theutbergae reginae. This text offers eye-opening insight both on the political wrangling of the time and on early medieval attitudes towards magic, penance, gender, the ordeal, marriage, sodomy, the role of bishops, and kingship.The translation includes a substantial introduction and annotations, putting the case into its early medieval context and explaining Hincmar's sometimes-dubious methods of argument. -- .

About this title

Review:

"Overall, fellow historians will appreciate the expertise, clarity and good sense with which Stone and West have approached both the text and the elucidation of its context. It is admirably abreast of current scholarship (not least that since 1992) on Frankish politics, the Frankish church, bishops, canon law, patristic and early medieval commentaries and use of Latin. This book, in short, is a valuable contribution to scholarship." - Rosamond McKitterick, Cambridge, Francia-Recensio

About the Author:

Rachel Stone is Visiting Research Associate in the Department of History at King's College, London Charles West is Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Sheffield -- .

About this edition

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 071908296X
• ISBN 13: 9780719082962
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368