Anchoress and Abbess in Ninth-Century Saxony: The Lives of Liutbirga of Wendhausen and Hathumoda of Gandersheim
Simon MacLean
Although most of the main Carolingian narrative sources have benefited from English translations over last 20 years, hagiography has been less well served. Frederick S. Paxton is therefore to be thanked for making these two difficult texts (three, in fact, since Hathumoda's Life accompanied by a long poetic Dialogue on her death) accessible wider readership plain and readable English. The Lives can both dated fairly closely middle years 870s, were written soon after deaths their subjects people who knew them personally. This personal knowledge may contributed idiosyncratic nature each biography, as did difficulties faced hagiographers struggling mould appropriate models female sanctity Late Antique literature that ascribed saintliness primarily bishops, warriors other high-status men. interplay between problems genre authors’ individuals they wrote about produced distinctive results—Walter Berschin even considered Hathumoda represent ‘a new page history biography’. book's title refers roles respective protagonists: Liutbirga lived an anchoress three decades, while presented idealised abbess canonesses newly-founded community Gandersheim. Both troubled diabolical attacks, troubling visions gift prophecy. Yet, beyond depictions forms religious dedication saintly endurance, are interesting light cast broader aspects contemporary society politics. Much material taken up with illness, gives telling insights into beliefs practices surrounding death mourning period (the subject earlier book Paxton). Liutbirga's career was tied generations prominent Saxon noble family feature prominently careful reading reveals snippets information aristocratic culture such land stewardship, patronage education women. Gandersheim became key political centre tenth century (as, lesser degree, Wendhausen), focus its founding us access nursery Ottonian royal dynasty at court King Louis Younger: brother-in-law, Henry I nephew. Not all this will self-evident students particular, read isolation baffling, but 79-page introduction does excellent job introducing contextualising texts, points reader direction related work scholars Julia Smith, Valerie Garver, Sean Gilsdorf himself. But it should also acknowledged detailed textual commentaries provided similar volumes make scholarly contributions, audience not restricted teachers. By providing expert thoroughly contextualised entrée world often shrouded arcana Germanophone historiography, extends our understanding Saxony he introduces it.
The English Historical Review