Historians have not done justice to the thousands of women who served in God’s kingdom during Medieval times. Women prayed, taught, preached, went on pilgrimages, reigned over kingdoms, founded monasteries, and took care of the poor. Like their female forebears in the Patristic Era these women contributed greatly to the Kingdom of God, not so they could be remembered, but so they could serve the Lord Jesus by serving others.[1]
We began our journey through the Middle Ages with the story of Genovefa of Paris (423-502). Next, we learned about Clothilde, the Queen of the Franks (470-545) who was a contemporary of Genovefa’s. Then we took a break from Medieval Christianity on the mainland continent of Europe to look at Christianity in Ireland and her most famous saint – Brigid of Kildare (451-523). We then returned our attention to the east to the Byzantine Empire and recounted the story of Empress Theodora. As a powerful woman, Theodora saw to it that the poor and disadvantaged were cared for. Many other noble ladies used their power and resources to care for the poor. Last time we were introduced to one of these – Radegund, Queen of the Franks. This week we turn to the story of a woman who went from slavery to reigning as queen in the Merovingian era – Bathilde (sometimes spelled Bathildis).
Bathilde (Bathildis) – 626 (630?) – 680
Queen Bathilde was one of the last to rule during the Merovingian era. Before we begin her story, let’s take a break and review the history of the Merovingian era. The circumstances in the Frankish kingdom during this time explain the details surrounding Bathilde’s life.
The Merovingian era was from about 480 to 751 AD. It was named for King Merovech, but the dynasty was firmly established with his grandson, Clovis I who came to power in 481 AD.[2]Clovis I died in 511 AD. As time went on the Merovingian kings became weaker and there was more corruption in the land. Over 100 years later Clovis’s descendant, Dagobert I (603-638) was the last really powerful Merovingian king.
Descent of Frank Kings from Clovis I
Clovis I – died 511 – married St. Clothilde
Clotaire I – died 561 – married St. Radegund[3]
Chilperic I – died 584
Clotaire II – died 628
Dagobert I – died 638
Clovis II – died 657 – married St. Bathilde
During the reign of Dagobert I, the Merovingian dynasty reached its peak. The kingdom had gone from barbarism to the luxuries and extravagances of a settled civilization. The latter kings became self-indulgent and lazy. The weakness in their character played into the hands of very powerful men – the major-domo’s (Mayor of the palace) who became greedy. The major-domo was elected from the wealthy proprietors of the land to help the king keep them under control. But the mayors began to use their power for their own advantage. It was during a period of warfare and struggles for power in the mid-seventh century that our story about Bathilde takes place.
Around 640 AD in one of the battles between a Frankish army and the Anglo-Saxons, a young aristocratic English girl was taken prisoner. Bathilde was carried into France and sold into slavery to the mayor of the palace, a man named Erchinoald. Bathilde was sweet and good-natured even in the face of her bad fortune. She had a cheerful countenance and was beautiful. Erchinoald desired to marry her, but she steadfastly refused.
Clovis had noticed the beautiful Bathilde too. Erchinoald offered to give her to him and Clovis and Bathilde were married. Bathilde was around nineteen years of age. They had three sons who would go on to be kings of the Franks – Clotaire III, Childeric II, and Theodoric III.
Clovis II became ruler of the entire kingdom of the Franks in 657. He only reigned in this
capacity for a few months, dying in November of that year. Queen Bathilde became the regent for her young son Clotaire.
For a time, everything went well. Bathilde was assisted by the major-domo, Erchinoald who helped her rule wisely. The queen tried to do much that would help her people. She did away with a dreadful poll tax that mostly harmed the poor. Fathers were selling their children into slavery in order to pay the tax. Bathilde forbade the sale or purchase of Christian slaves. Having been a victim of war as a slave herself, Bathilde could sympathize with the prisoners captured in war. She declared that the slaves should be freed. Bathilde won the love of her people for her justice and compassion.
Bathilde also worked with the bishops to end corruption in the church. She supported the religious houses in her kingdom and at least two of them were founded out of her own means. One of them was at Corby, near Amiens and the other at Chelles near Paris on the river Marne.
During her reign forests and wastelands were reclaimed and turned into productive agricultural lands. Ahead of her time as a statesman, Bathilde introduced the concept of private property which had the effect of greatly improving the economy. Besides allowing property to be owned by someone other than the church or the nobles, individuals could start businesses. Farmers had the incentive to get loans and improve their land. The people greatly rejoiced in their freedom under Bathilde.
Bathilde built hospitals and purchased the supplies for the needy with the sale of her own jewelry. She continued to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, bury the dead and promote Christianity. She was praised by her people for her wisdom, charity, and generosity.
Things took a bad turn when Erchinoald was no longer the major-domo. The new mayor, Ebroin was unscrupulous and involved the government in serious disputes with the nobles and the clergy. Ebroin was as daring as he was unprincipled. He used his power to get rid of any bishops who did not agree with him. When he had Annemond, bishop of Lyons done away with he aggravated the crime by saying that he had done it with the authority of the queen. Ebroin did everything in his power to discredit Bathilde. Always humble, Bathilde eventually wearied and felt that she could no longer fight Ebroin. Around 665, her son Clotaire had come of age and was crowned King of France. Bathilde could then retire from public life. Her other two sons were also established in their respective territories, Childeric in Austrasia and Theodoric in Burgundy.
Bathilde went to join the nuns at Chelles. Though she was queen, she did not treat the other sisters as beneath her. With her usual humility, Bathilde submitted herself to the abbess and served in any capacity that was required. Her favorite post was the infirmary. Bathilde was delighted that she could serve the poor and needy with her own hands. For the last fifteen years of her life she served and prayed with humility, wisdom, meekness, amiability, compassion, and prudence. Having been a slave of men, Bathilde became a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. She died peacefully in 680 and was buried in the Abbey of Chelles.
[1]See posts on this blog site from January 22, 2019 through June 4, 2019 for “Women in the Patristic Era”.
[2]See the post on Clothilde, August 3, 2019 for more details. Clothilde was the saintly queen of Clovis I who helped spread Christianity throughout Gaul.
[3]See the post on Radegund, September 24, 2019.
