Ermentrude of Orléans explained

Ermentrude
Successor:Richilde of Provence
Birth Date:27 September 823
Burial Place:Basilica of Saint-Denis, Paris, France
Succession:Queen consort of West Francia
Reign:843 - 869
Reign-Type:Tenure
Coronation:866
Predecessor:Judith of Bavaria (as Carolingian Empress)
Dynasty:Udalriching
Spouse:Charles II (m. 842)
Issue-Link:
  1. Marriage and issue
Issue-Pipe:among others...
Father:Odo I of Orléans
Mother:Engeltrude de Fézensac

Ermentrude of Orléans (27 September 823  - 6 October 869) was the Queen of the Franks by her marriage to Charles II. She was the daughter of Odo, count of Orleans and Engeltrude de Fézensac.

Queenship

The traditional historiography on queenship has created an image of a queen who a king's "helpmate"[1] and provider of heirs.[2] [3] [4] P.Stafford has examined queenship in a lot of depth, using Ermentrude's role in the Carolingian dynasty. They had power within the royal household and partially within the court. Their official duty was running the royal household smoothly, such as directing the children's education, supervising the staff and managing the private royal treasury.[5] They unofficially acted as hostesses, ensuring the royal family was not involved in scandals and giving gifts to high-ranking officials in a society where this was important to maintain bonds. As a result, queens were expected to act as wise, loyal and chaste women.[6]

In particular, Ermentrude was described by a contemporary, John Scotus Eriugena, as a 'strong woman' (femina fortis).[7] 2 letters written in her name survive, a further 5 letters were addressed to her, [8] and 12 charges issued by Charles II had her involved. In her free time, she showed a gift for embroidery.[9]

Consecration

In 866, Ermentrude was consecrated by the Archbishop Hincmar of Rheims during a politically turbulent time regarding his relationship with Charles II.[10] It was the coronation of a wife rather than a bride, as she was crowned over 20 years after her wedding. According to Z. Mistry, the ordination shows two important ideas about Ermentrude and queenship in general: a) dynastic security b) how to be a good wife to a king.

Throughout the ordination, Ermentrude is repeatedly compared to Sarah from the Bible, and Z. Mistry concludes that this is an attempt from Hincmar and Charles II to bless the Carolingian dynasty with more heirs through Ermentrude. This is because Sarah struggled to have children until she reaffirmed her faith, showing that fertility and dynastic survival was entwined with devout faith.[11] [12] Fittingly, Ermentrude had an interest in religious foundations[13] and associations with several convents, including Chelles and Avenay.

Z. Mistry points out that Hincmar also developed an ideology for the behaviour of queens in his ordination and other works. He expected Ermentrude to be ‘loveable like Rachel, wise like Rebecca, loyal like Sarah.’[14] This list for how to be a good queen was common in Carolingian times, as Eriugena praised Ermentrude for her chastity, piety, and constant prayer, all virtues reminiscent of biblical women.[15]

Issue

Ermentrude of Orléans and Charles II, also known as "The Bald", married in 842. Their children were:

Sources

Further reading

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Stafford, P. Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages. 1983. London. 100.
  2. Book: Nelson, J. Politics and Ritual in Early Medieval Europe. limited. 1986. London. 7. 9780907628590 .
  3. Mistry. Zubin. 2019. Ermentrude's consecration (866): queen-making rites and biblical templates for Carolingian fertility. Early Medieval Europe. en. 27. 4. 567–588. 10.1111/emed.12373. 20.500.11820/141896e9-d116-4fc3-b50a-b9094ca0e8c0 . 213816257 . 1468-0254. free.
  4. Book: Stafford, P. Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages. 1983. London. 86.
  5. Book: Stafford, P. Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages. 1983. London. 112.
  6. Book: Stafford, P. Queens, Concubines and Dowagers: The King's Wife in the Early Middle Ages. 1983. London. 99.
  7. Book: Herren, Michael. Iohannis Scotti Eriugenae Carmina. Michael Herren. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1993. 1855001624. 72.
  8. Web site: Ermentrud of Orleans. Medieval Women's Latin Letters. 2014. 8 March 2019.
  9. Book: Herren, Michael. Iohannis Scotti Eriugenae Carmina. Michael Herren. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1993. 1855001624. 72.
  10. Book: R. Stone and C. West. Hincmar of Rheims: Life and Work. Manchester University Press. 2015. Manchester. 14.
  11. Mistry. Z. 2019. 'Ermentrude's Consecration (866): Queen-making rites and biblical templates for Carolingian fertility'. Early Medieval Europe. 18.
  12. Jane Hyam, 'Ermentrude and Richildis', in Charles the Bald, Court and Kingdom, ed. Margaret Gibson and Janet Nelson (London, 1981), 153.
  13. Book: Herren, Michael. Iohannis Scotti Eriugenae Carmina. Michael Herren. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. 1993. 1855001624. 72.
  14. Mistry. Zubin. 2019. Ermentrude's consecration (866): queen-making rites and biblical templates for Carolingian fertility. Early Medieval Europe. en. 27. 4. 567–588. 10.1111/emed.12373. 20.500.11820/141896e9-d116-4fc3-b50a-b9094ca0e8c0 . 213816257 . 1468-0254. free.
  15. Mistry. Zubin. 2019. Ermentrude's consecration (866): queen-making rites and biblical templates for Carolingian fertility. Early Medieval Europe. en. 27. 4. 567–588. 10.1111/emed.12373. 20.500.11820/141896e9-d116-4fc3-b50a-b9094ca0e8c0 . 213816257 . 1468-0254. free.

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