Religious Women in Early Carolingian Francia
Felice Lifshitz
Abstract This book is a study of the intellectual culture women’s monasteries Main Valley during eighth century, with particular focus on Karlburg and Kitzingen. It based an analysis manuscripts produced used by women religious, beginning in middle decades when arrival “Anglo-Saxon missionaries to Germany” (including Boniface Mainz his “beloved,” Leoba Tauberbischofsheim) inaugurated production region. The content books was overwhelmingly gender-egalitarian frequently feminist, that is, resistant patriarchal ideas. Female intellectuals preferentially selected for reproduction transmission texts supported their own aspirations dignity authority ecclesiastical landscape Carolingian realm. Furthermore, scribe-authors Kitzingen actively intervened they transmitted modify them (when necessary) more feminist direction, combined pre-existent innovative ways, composed number entirely new order produce powerfully visions Christian history theology. At Kitzingen, talented theologian-artist also illuminations enhanced meaning texts, one case (a crucifixion miniature illustrating Pauline Epistles) markedly way. Religious Women provides many glimpses into non-gendered aspects monastic such as importance practice devotional penance.