Radegund: The Trials and Triumphs of a Merovingian Queen

Radegund was a princess, captive, queen, deaconess, and saint who lived through a time of change. She was honored as a mother by Frankish kings and as a holy woman by her nuns and devotees. E. T. Dailey's book examines her life and legacy, showing how she succeeded in establishing a place for herself in a difficult and dangerous world without resorting to violence and intrigue.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Radegund: A Woman Who Defined an Era

Radegund, a princess born into the Thuringian royal house, found herself a captive in war, forced to marry the Frankish king who had slaughtered her family. Despite this tragic beginning, she transformed into a queen, renouncing her royal status and receiving consecration as a deaconess. She then took monastic vows, dedicating her life to religious service. Radegund's remarkable journey continued as she became a religious leader, acquiring a fragment of the Cross of the Crucifixion for her convent of Holy Cross in Poitiers. Her influence extended far and wide, earning her the title of saint due to her healings, exorcisms, and extreme self-mortification.

Radegund's life spanned an era characterized by rapid change, and she was honored as a mother by subsequent Frankish kings and revered as a holy woman by her nuns and devotees. Her reputation for righteousness spread throughout medieval Europe, inspiring later queens to emulate her pious achievements. For generations, she defined medieval queenship, female monastic practice, and the expectations associated with holy women. Today, Radegund is often envisioned as a pan-European saint, her legacy enduring through the ages.

In his book, "Radegund: A Woman Who Defined an Era," E. T. Dailey delves into the vibrant life and legacy of this remarkable woman. He explores how Radegund succeeded in establishing a place for herself within a challenging and dangerous world, despite the trials she faced. Dailey also demonstrates how Radegund achieved prominence as a woman in a foreign land, without resorting to the violence and intrigue that characterized the lives of other prominent women during this period.

Drawing on a wealth of English, French, and German scholarship, "Radegund" provides a concise, authoritative, and accessible portrait of this remarkable woman. It is an essential read for experts and lay readers alike, offering insights into the life and times of Radegund and her enduring impact on medieval history.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 155 x 236 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197699201