Kezia Nyarko

Mr. Saldivar
WHAP A4
Nov. 11, 2012


I. The Life of Lady Balthild, Queen of Franks
1. Why does the author think that Lady Balthilds life is exemplary?
The author believes Lady Balthilds life is exemplary because she was sold as a slave and when
she rose to high poer, she didnt let it get to her. Instead, she volunterily led a holy life. She
didnt forget the poor, built monastries, and was very charitable. After all of that, she gave
everything to become a nun and completed her blessed life.
2. To whom do you think the author directed his or her message, and why?
With the authors intention being that he wanted to hold Lady Balthild up as a model of
Christian piety, the correct guess would be that this author was trying to persuade people the
Christian community to agree with his view of Lady Balthild as something more than just
another Queen who did well in her life. His audience was the Meroginvians and Christians all
around.
3. What does this source suggest about womens role in Merovingian politics and the
relationship between this role and Christian values?
The source suggests that womens role in Meroginvian politics was one of a regents. Because the
Roman Empire was losing its force and power, the kings would often go into war. This allowed
the queens to reign through thier sons. The relationship between this role and Christian values is
that unlike the men who focused solely on order and justice, the Queens took a more nuturing
role as presumed by christianity. They led a holy or blessed reign, where built religious temples
and building, helped the poor, and did whatever they could without fear of humilition. Like,
Lady Balthild would clean the bathrooms without being embarresed, something a man would
never do as they held a more holier than thou attitude. Something coming from the Christian
ideals of women as important and subordinate but men as much better.




II. The Rule of Charlemagne
1. What does this document reveal about Charlemagnes vision of himself and his empire? In
what ways were his christian beliefs central to both?
The document reveals that Charlemagne is aware of the problems that can occur within his
empire as well as himself. He realizes that hes not capable of doing everything, which is why he
requests for his people to adhere Christianity and the faith of God. We see that he establishes a
check and balance where he sets laws and employs sub-leaders but even then has other sub-
leaders checking the ruling of later. The ways were his christian beliefs are central is that within
Christian values, youre inferior, which he proves by requesting the adherence of Christianity in
his people. His laws are based on Christian values of overlooking the material price or reward of
something and taking a higher road to satisfy the request of God. (e.g. dont rob, dont defend
someone who did wrong, perjury is wrong...etc.)
2. Why might Charlemagne have considered it neccessary for all freeman to swear an oath of
fidelity to him as emperor? How was the notion of fidelity crucial to the success of his
government?
Charlemagne considered it neccessary to swear an oath of fidelity to him as emperor because in
such a big empire, ineer-revolts tend to be the breaking point and splitting of most empires. So,
having people swear an oath to him as emperor, allows him to get rid of those who refuse and
reduce the chances of having a civil war. Thus, keeping his problems nondomestic, not domestic.
3. What do the articles suggest about the means by which Charlemagne sought to unify his
empire?
The articles suggest that Charlemagne sought to unify his empire through political reform and
religion. He had a set of rules in which he obliged for all of them to follow and had a sort of
check and balance where he would send his officials or missis to go overlook the staes within
his empire. But he overlooks the officials and their decisions as well. Through, religion, he
required everyone to voluntarily adhere themselves to the Chrisitan religion. The unification of
religion has proved to be correct in unifying empires so far.