Lothar I and the visibility of the female aristocracy

The descriptions of the female aristocracy in the age of Lothar I differ somewhat from those of the preceding and following age: in general, women do not appear on the scene as a source of conflict or scandal, but instead seem to hide behind a stereotyped and aseptic image. This seems to apply especially to Lothar I’s bride, Ermengard. However, a broader analysis shows that, in practice, the empress’s political interventions greatly contributed to the acceptance of Lothar in the vast imperial space. Conversely, the control of women’s behaviour was a very important issue in defining Lothar’s imperial authority. This is shown by his decision to punish the nun Gerberga of Chalon-sur-Saône and to increase the protection around the royal nunnery of Santa Maria Teodota in Pavia. In the age of Lothar, the imperial power over women underlines his ability to potentially avoid the problems linked to the impurity of women’s bodies, their sexuality and the political turmoil.