The Earliest Queen-Making Rites
Julie Ann Smith
While the study of early medieval kingship and king-making rites has generated an extensive literature, scholarship on contemporary queenship concentrated themes authority power in religious political contexts, queen-making have received only passing mention. Beginning late ninth tenth centuries it became customary England Francia for a queen to be ritually inaugurated her position. The rite consecration endowed with new persona, entailing attributes virtues queenship. Of course, sources reveal that kings' wives had been considered queens significant members royal households from at least sixth century. nature changed gradually over period. Initially marriage king made queen, this position appears quite satisfactory until eighth century, when Bertrada was consecrated 751 or 754. Regular consecrations queens, which included unction, began mid-
Church History