Overview

The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, occurring in the golden glint of the sunset of the Ancient World, was not a concluding chapter but an opening one. The sequential conversion of the barbarian tribal invaders of the Empire and the subsequent conversion of those beyond the old imperial limes was the making of European culture, a prototypical Christendom. The process has been well studied from the perspective of kings, popes, and missionaries by some of the finest historians of our era. But the missing component in this civilizational change is that of the decisive influence of barbarian queens, Christian women who led their royal husbands in the dangerous journey from one religion to another. In recent years, much has been done to illuminate queenship in general, but a study focusing specifically on the queen’s role in conversion is lacking. This book seeks to remedy that and provide a missing piece in women’s history.

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9781498584982

Table of Contents

Reviews

Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe engages with an enduring question – what made medieval queens such staples of conversion stories? Burnam Reynolds expertly unpacks the complex web of ties that placed ruling women of the post-Roman world in a position to influence the religious, political and cultural trajectories of whole nations. Beginning with an overarching discussion of the sources and the challenging phenomenon of religious conversion, the book deftly alternates between theory and practice, discussing case by case both famous and obscure queens and their impact on their respective societies. With lucid prose, the book pans from the westernmost kingdoms of early medieval Britain to the continental Franks, Visigoths and Lombards, on to Bohemia, concluding with the latest European conversion of the Lithuanians. It is an enjoyable and illuminating read for anyone interested in the Christian conversion of Europe and the role of queens therein. -- Yaniv Fox, Bar-Ilan University

""Barbarian Queens and the Conversion of Europe engages with an enduring question - what made medieval queens such staples of conversion stories? Burnam Reynolds expertly unpacks the complex web of ties that placed ruling women of the post-Roman world in a position to influence the religious, political and cultural trajectories of whole nations. Beginning with an overarching discussion of the sources and the challenging phenomenon of religious conversion, the book deftly alternates between theory and practice, discussing case by case both famous and obscure queens and their impact on their respective societies. With lucid prose, the book pans from the westernmost kingdoms of early medieval Britain to the continental Franks, Visigoths and Lombards, on to Bohemia, concluding with the latest European conversion of the Lithuanians. It is an enjoyable and illuminating read for anyone interested in the Christian conversion of Europe and the role of queens therein."" --Yaniv Fox, Bar-Ilan University

Author Information

Burnam W. Reynolds is professor emeritus of history at Asbury University.

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