earticle

영어

In recent decades, studies of women's history have shifted focus from equality to differences between men and women. And they have also paid more attention not to results but to processes in the evaluation of women and their lives. Women's experiences were different from those of men, and women's roles and contribution to society can be evaluated properly through observing process of women's whole lives, rather than the aend results by women. The aim of this thesis is to examine three women and women's lives. The three women are the Merovingian queens: Brunhild, Radegund, and Balthild, who lived in the male-dominated society of early medieval age. At first, Brunhild, as regent of her son and grandson, challenged men's power outright. Although she was labeled a wicked woman by chroniclers, she was, in fact, a pioneering politician who endeavored unsuccessfully to reunify three kingdoms into one. Next, Radegund found and built her own realm in religion in harmony with men of authority, and succeeded in reacing her final goal of building and taking control over a monastery, St. Croix of Gaul. It is significant that her manners and strategies, reflecting her consideration for other people, modest attitude and nurturing images, played an important role in her achievements. Lastly, Balthild can be situated half-way between the "wicked" Brunhild and the "holy" Radegund. During her regency, she pursued monastic policies that aided the accumulation of royal resources. When she faced opposition from bishops, however, she had to give up her policies and retreated into a monastery. (Ewha Womans University / chongklee@gmail.com) (Ewha Womans University / geena01@gmail.com)