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Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe

Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe cover

Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe

Description

The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, occurring in the golden glint of the sunset of the Ancient World, was not a concluding chapter but an opening one. The sequential conversion of the barbarian tribal invaders of the Empire and the subsequent conversion of those beyond the old imperial limes was the making of European culture, a prototypical Christendom. The process has been well studied from the perspective of kings, popes, and missionaries by some of the finest historians of our era. But the missing component in this civilizational change is that of the decisive influence of barbarian queens, Christian women who led their royal husbands in the dangerous journey from one religion to another. In recent years, much has been done to illuminate queenship in general, but a study focusing specifically on the queen’s role in conversion is lacking. This book seeks to remedy that and provide a missing piece in women’s history.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Legacy and the Pattern

Chapter One
The Falling and the Rising

Chapter Two
The Conversation of the Wives

Chapter Three
Conversion and the Sources

Part II: Preconditions and Impediments

Chapter Four
What is Conversion?

Chapter Five
What is a “Barbarian”?

Chapter Six
No Queen Without a Kingdom

Chapter Seven
The Complications of Violence

Part III: Cases

Case One
The Eldest Daughter

Case Two
‘The Most Glorious Queen’: From Ingund to Baddo

Case Three
A Man from Kent

Case Four
The Widow’s Choice

Case Five
“Tata Goes North”

Case Six
Dueling Easters

Case Seven
“Queens in the Mist”

Case Eight
“Morta and Mindaugas”

Coda: Concluding Thoughts

Product details

Published Nov 19 2024
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Pages 268
ISBN 9781978782747
Imprint Lexington Books
Illustrations 8 BW Photos
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Burnam W. Reynolds

Burnam W. Reynolds is professor emeritus of histor…

ONLINE RESOURCES

Bloomsbury Collections

This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.

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