This book compares two successful, elite women, Empress Adelheid (931-999) and Countess Matilda (1046-1115), for their relative ability to retain their wealth and power in the midst of the profound social changes of the eleventh century. The careers of the Ottonian queen and empress Adelheid and Countess Matilda of Tuscany reveal a growth of opportunities for women to access wealth and power. These two women are analyzed under three categories: their relationships with family and friends, how they managed their property (particularly land), and how they ruled. This analysis encourages a better understanding of gender relations in both the past and the present.
1. Introduction: Masterful and Formidable Ladies.- 2. Kin and Kith: Keeping Friends and Placating Enemies.- 3. Land: Building and Maintaining a Property Portfolio.- 4. Rule: Models of Rulership and the Tools of Justice
Energetic, thorough, and thoughtful examination of sources old and new to the study of Adelheid and Matilda. The book is concluded by a brief epilogue, and enriched by a number of useful charts, chronologies, maps, and images. (Miriam Shadis, Speculum, Vol. 94 (3), July, 2019)
The comparison between Matilda and Adelheid is organized thematically, focusing on family and friends, land and rulership. & Her book will serve as a valuable introduction to those interested in the lives of these two important female rulers. (Sarah Greer, Early Medieval Europe, Vol. 27 (2), 2019)
This book provides a considerable amount of useful information, including a detailed discussion of the sources of information that are available for the lives and careers of Matilda and Adelheid. These include more than 100 surviving charters for the countess & a considerable body of narratil³R
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