HIST 107 Introduction to Medieval History Lecture 7 Dhuoda and the Carolingian Renaissance Main Problems 1 What significant changes overtook the Carolingian empire after the death of Charlemagne 814 2 What can we learn from the experience of Dhuoda about the political and cultural world of ninth century Francia 3 What should we understand by the idea of the Carolingian Renaissance Key Points Three questions to address A What happened to the war machine and why B What does the case study of Dhuoda add to our analysis of this period C What sort of political and cultural conditions favoured the development of the so called Carolingian Renaissance A What happened to the war machine and why Signs of change of emphasis already in the later years of Charlemagne mid 790s emergence of Aachen as a fixed capital Avars almost an unfollowable act now poorer opponents on borders Possibly the imperial title encourages this more sedentary court politics But also signs of old political habits Divisio regni 806 Charlemagne anticipates the splitting up of his state Only the death of 2 of 3 surviving sons will ensure unity after he dies 813 Charlemagne has his remaining son Louis crowned co emperor no papal input this a private Frankish royal arrangement Succession of Louis the Pious 814 40 Often presented as a disappointment after Charlemagne But recently scholarly views have become more positive e g militarily quite active as earlier in Spain before accession ruthlessness in disposing of rival relatives at first mindful of tradition Ordinatio imperii 817 divides empire between sons But also evidence of a more exalted notion of imperial status than Charlemagne Louis resists papal attempts to make title in the gift of the popes emergence of the penitential state more ritual in public life ambitious monastic reform and centralization under Benedict of Aniane Rule of St Benedict imposed as the norm see St Gallen Plan Main problem multiple sons Lothar Louis Pippin then later Charles civil wars in 829 34 Louis even deposed for a time then further wars 840 3 after Louis dies solution Treaty of Verdun 843 see map Rosenwein Short History p 124 the birth of France and Germany to some extent but other partitions in later years so nothing final yet But with focus on internal civil war the war machine turns in on itself Nithard dissension and struggle abound B What does the case study of Dhuoda add to our analysis of this period Dhuoda is a fascinating case study with which to look at post Charlemagne world Liber Manualis Handbook for my Son written 841 3 i e during civil war of Louis s sons written for son William at court of Charles the Bald of west Francia Why is the book interesting Rare example of writing by a woman in this period Evidence of the educational levels of lay aristocrats Important members of the imperial aristocracy husband Bernard of Septimania main advisor of Louis the Pious links to monastic reform importance of the royal court as a political and cultural hub still Dhuoda s family has a very chequered career but representative of the era especially emphasis on family and role of father as authority figure her identity submerged by that of her husband s family Women as moral arbiters will become a feature of aristocratic culture Overall lesson of Dhuoda s experience in some respects the world she represents is disappearing aristocratic levels of education will soon decline heavily moral quality of political life will dissipate but in other respects she anticipates the family centric politics of the future the monastic influence on lay aristocratic thinking will grow C What sort of political and cultural conditions favoured the development of the socalled Carolingian Renaissance Or what made someone like Dhuoda possible Pronounced emphasis on education by Charlemagne from 780s Standardization of Latin clearer script Caroline miniscule at Corbie Latin classics not the main priority though more are now copied Main concerns theology church law moral instruction liturgy Court as an intellectual and educational centre schools set up in regions trivium and quadrivium Extends to other arts with an ecclesiastical dimension e g visual art Utrecht Psalter as devotional object music for chant in church architecture e g Aachen cathedral poetry Conclusions The Carolingian state does not find an adequate substitute for its war machine But don t underestimate the energy and creativity of Louis the Pious Dhuoda is evidence of a remarkable one off renaissance of learning not quite like the later Renaissances of the 12th and 15th centuries but nonetheless an impressive achievement BUT the military implosion and civil wars of the 830s and 840s plus the continued wealth of the Carolingian world will begin to attract unwanted predators of which more in the next lecture Proper Nouns and Technical Terms Divisio Regni 806 Ordinatio Imperii 817 Treaty of Verdun Benedict of Aniane St Gallen Einhard Bernard of Septimania William of Gellone Bernard Plantevelue William of Aquitaine Alcuin of York Corbie Cluny 909 Theodulf of Orl ans trivium quadrivium Key Images 1 St Gallen Plan c 820 2 Utrecht Psalter c 825 3 Octagon of Aachen Cathedral 9th century 4 Caroline miniscule 9th century