Maternity and Spiritual Progression in Dhuoda’s Liber Manualis (840s CE)
Dana M. Polanichka
Maternity and Spiritual Progression in Dhuoda’s Liber Manualis (840s CE) Dana M. Polanichka In November 841 CE, as civil war raged across the Carolingian world, a noblewoman Uzès, twenty-five miles west of Avignon, faced her own battle: Dhuoda wrestled with absence sons, William (fourteen years old) Bernard (a mere eight months), well husband, Septimania. She chose to mitigate distance make herself present sons by composing, what she describes incipit as, “liber . [a handbook].”1 directed manualis older son, asking that he eventually share it his brother.2 incipit, presents book substitute for presence: “Quod si absens sum corpore, iste praesens libellus tibi ad mentem reducat quid erga me, cum legeris, debeas agere [But though I am absent body, this little book, when you read it, will remind should do me].” also writes, “et defuerim deficiens, quod futurum est, habes hic memoriale libellum moralis [and future, fail my absence, have moral reminder]” (1.7).3 Near end, assures “ordinatrix cunctis assisto [instructor, stand beside all things]” (11.1). is not unusual use writing connect distant individuals bridge geographical divides world; contemporaries proclaimed their letters, poems, manuscripts be substitutes physical presence.4 Nor hers only which “materiality matters.”5 Dhuoda, however, employs unique authorial status mother—specifically, mother handbook’s recipient—to intensify ways manuscript could author audience. She, more forcefully than other authors, elicits son’s sensory experiences first drawing on an established hierarchy exterior [End Page 7] interior senses encouraged Christians transition from materiality immateriality spiritual journey.6 This then maps progression outer inner onto maternity so might appear mind’s eye, heart’s ear, soul’s touch, if within actual vision, earshot, or grasp. More simply highlighting through embodied act reading handbook, reveals shift material acts procreation composition. Through emphasis manuscript, became surrogate transforming into motherly face see, loving hands touch them, caring voice speak nourishment physically feed them. Writer Bibliophile was born aristocratic family around 800 CE. June 824, at Aachen court, married Her chamberlain Emperor Louis Pious (r. 814–840), came notoriety 830 alleged lover Louis’s second wife, Judith. One decade later, betrayed new lord, Charles Bald (823–877), compelled offer son (b. 826) political hostage young king.7 When 841, had infant brought him Aquitaine. left alone estate struggling manage both finances maternal longing.8 To ease suffering, composed, February 843, William, modern editors divided eleven books.9 Only three extant contain text whole part. The earliest dates ninth eleventh centuries includes nine noncontiguous fragments.10 fourteenth-century copy, compiled pedagogical texts, produced in...
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