Both sources show Radegund as a person so devoted to her religion that she tortured herself to show her faithfulness. However, one glaring difference between the two versions of the story is the childhood. In the first story, the author uses the second paragraph to tell us about her childhood. In the second version of the story, the author goes from his or her introduction immediately to Radegund's life as queen. Despite this difference, the childhood story was only a foreshadowing of what to expect. As a child, Radegund is described as someone wise beyond her years.
I found it interesting that there was an instance when Radegund supposedly deprived herself of food and other necessities of life without the abbess knowing. If this was the case, how come the author knows? Another thing I found interesting is the fact that in the first book she punished herself for not being the first to do things for others. It appears she is doing things for others not because she wants to, but because she wants to win a competition. This doesn't strike me as the behavior of a pious person.

Radegund had a MESSED UP FAMILY!

I'd like to pose a thought to ponder.

In our current society, during the times we live in, pyschological trauma plays an important role in the upbringing, development, and overall basis of our lives. We write off explanations to serious matters like sexual assault and abuse to be the cause of emotional scarring lingering from childhood.

My question is this: how does St. Radegund function the way that she does without a total pyschiatric breakdown? Follow me, her father was murdered by her uncle, who ended up caring for her and her brother. Then her brother was murdered because he posed a threat to the throne, and Radegund fled to become a saint. How does someone surrounded with that much immediate tragedy stay sane?

Woman and Radegund

In all accounts of St. Radegund's life she is described as a pious wowan in that she is, "energetically alms giving", and "she believed that anything that the poor recieved from her was their own in reality." What I see in the accounts of her life from the course reader that I see as different from Gregory of Tours is the way in whicht they talk about her. In the course reader she is described mainly as important because yes she is saintly, but she is a saintly woman and God "wins mighty victories through the female sex and, despite their frail physique, He confers glory and greatness on women through strength of mind.". In general I feel like the authors in the course reader almost see to be explaining away the fact that she is a woman at times so that she might appear saintly. In Gregory of Tours, he establishes that she is a woman, yes, but he never takes the time to descrie her disadvantage of being a woman. In fact, he describes her as having great influence with God and the Frankish kings when Clotild was upset and pleaded in all directions for escape from the "menevolent" Radegund. I would like to know more textual information to gain knowledge of the views of women in the times of all the authors.

Radegund Playas!!!

As we well know in our brief literary forays (at least those that we have elected to do) that Queen/St. Radegund is among the more examined figures of the era. While the details of her marriage and various strifes are among the most noteworthy I found an interesting discrepancy in the descriptions crowning the last era of Radegund's life, in which she took care of a nunnery. 

The article in the reader details Radegund's nunnery as akin to an oasis in a desert of war. While it goes over the difficulties it manages to explain details that sketch the nunnery as a rich and vibrant place. They also explain the difficulties of running the place and examine Radegund's constant pleas for help. They portray her life outside of the spotlight as one of quiet activism and manifestation of the principal's of one's life. While this period of her life seems to be regarded as nothing more than a footnote in these histories I found it quite compelling as it is akin to the political lives led by so many leaders. Look no further than Jimmy Carter, ousted from the Presidency, Mr. Carter has pulled a Radegund and established his own domain as a peace keeping place. 

Though this is a bit of stretch, I wonder if Radegund set the template for many post political careers. 

In Gregory's work, attention was paid to Radegund's life but it glossed over most of the details. It makes her seem like a constant bother to local municipalities. However, it can be argued that most of the work went into explanation of the juicy details of Radegund's life. Being from the era Gregory was probably overcome with the popular tales and his personal relationship. He could have considered her life ending forays as mere retirement trivialities. It wasn't until later scholars that these endeavors were renowned for their worth. 

Radegund Playas!!!*

Readings

***Note-Change in Reading Schedule***

Friday: please have read up through book 9 in Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks.
Monday: Read book 10 of The History of the Franks, as well as the Thuringian War and the lives of Radegund-these can be found back to back in your reader. If you have any questions about the readings EMAIL myself or Stacey!

blog assignment 5

Compare the various lives of Radegund we read. Use specific examples.