Berta and Adelaide: the policy of consolidation of the royal power of Hugh of Arles

Authors

  • Giacomo Vignodelli Università degli Studi di Bologna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/1593-2214/369

Keywords:

dowers, Italic Kingdom, fiscal properties, queens, monasteries, Berta, Adelaide, Hugo of Provence, Lothar II, Canossa, queenship

Abstract

Both twins dowers made up by Hugh of Provence, king of Italic Kingdom, for his betrothal with Berta and that of his son Lothair with Adelaide, have to be understood within the policy of strengthening the royal power led by the king in the Thirties of the Tenth century: the dowers are in fact the crown of that policy. The double dower constitution supplies the king of Italy the opportunity to reserve for himself (and for the new formed young royal couple) a strong control of the center of the Po valley around Pavia and dismantles (for the benefit of the royal domain) ducal bases of power in Tuscia. The analysis of the work of Hugh allows us to understand its policy towards the aristocracy and the mechanisms for the promotion of new families (Aleramici, Obertenghi, Canossa). The original documents of dower were kept in the monastery of St. Salvatore of Pavia, founded by Adelaide; this locations isn’t due to the goods endowment of the monastery but to their importance as instrument of political legitimacy of the new Ottonian royal family.

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Published

2012-10-21

How to Cite

Vignodelli, Giacomo. 2012. “Berta and Adelaide: The Policy of Consolidation of the Royal Power of Hugh of Arles”. Reti Medievali Journal 13 (2):247-94. https://doi.org/10.6092/1593-2214/369.

Issue

Section

Essayes in Monographic Section

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