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Imperial Ladies of the Ottonian Dynasty

Women and Rule in Tenth-Century Germany

  • Book
  • © 2018

Overview

Authors:
  1. Phyllis G. Jestice

    1. College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA

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  • Examines elite Ottonian women, particularly Theophanu and Adelheid, in the context of attitudes toward women in Germany of the central Middle Ages
  • Presents arguments against the concept of exceptionalism—the idea that Ottonian royal women were treated and had powers very different from those of non-royal women
  • Appeals to students and scholars of medieval history, German history, queenship and monarchy studies, and gender studies

Part of the book series: Queenship and Power (QAP)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction: The Road to Regency

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 1-16

  3. Women in Tenth-Century Germany

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 17-41

  4. Prestige Marriage

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 43-70

  5. The Wealth of Queens

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 71-101

  6. The Lord’s Anointed

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 103-129

  7. Piety as Power

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 131-150

  8. Connections

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 151-177

  9. Partners in Rule

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 179-206

  10. 984

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 207-233

  11. Regents

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 235-264

  12. Epilogue: The Power of Royal Women?

    • Phyllis G. Jestice
    Pages 265-270

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 271-300
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Keywords

About this book

In tenth-century Europe and particularly in Germany, imperial women were able to wield power in ways that were scarcely imaginable in earlier centuries. Theophanu and Adelheid were two of the most influential figures in the Ottonian reich along with their husbands, who relied heavily on their support. Phyllis G. Jestice examines an array of factors that produced their power and prestige, including societal attitudes toward women, their wealth, their unction as queens, and their carefully constructed image of piety. Due to their influential positions, Theophanu and Adelheid reclaimed control of the young Otto III despite fierce opposition from Henry the Quarrelsome during the throne struggle of 984. In examining how they successfully secured the regency, this book confronts the outmoded notion of exceptionalism and illuminates the lives of powerful Ottonian women.

Reviews

“The book’s clever structure plays a large part … . Jestice succeeds in producing not just a penetrating, persuasive, and in certain respects innovative interpretation of the Ottonian crisis of 984, but also an impressive survey of female rule.” (Knut Görich, German Historical Institute London Bulletin, Vol. 43 (2), November, 2021)



“The volume is gorgeously produced, and sumptuously illustrated with many well-rendered colour images of Ottonian artwork. The work as a physical book is a delight to behold. … In a market with several other new and exciting offerings, scholars of the Ottonian world will have little reason to prioritise Imperial Ladies of the Ottonian Dynasty.” (Fraser McNair, Royal Studies Journal, Vol. 6 (1), 2019)

Authors and Affiliations

  • College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA

    Phyllis G. Jestice

About the author

Phyllis G. Jestice is Professor of Medieval History and chair of the Department of History at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, USA. She is the author of Wayward Monks and the Religious Revolution of the Eleventh Century (1997). Since then, her scholarly interests have come to focus on the tenth century, aided by Theophanu, a splendid calico cat.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Imperial Ladies of the Ottonian Dynasty

  • Book Subtitle: Women and Rule in Tenth-Century Germany

  • Authors: Phyllis G. Jestice

  • Series Title: Queenship and Power

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77306-3

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: History, History (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-77305-6Published: 23 April 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-08424-0Published: 30 January 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-77306-3Published: 12 April 2018

  • Series ISSN: 2730-938X

  • Series E-ISSN: 2730-9398

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 300

  • Number of Illustrations: 2 b/w illustrations, 6 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: History of Medieval Europe, History of Germany and Central Europe, Imperialism and Colonialism, Women's Studies

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