Dhuoda

Dhuoda (fl. AD 824–844) was a Frankish writer, as well as Duchess consort of Septimania and Countess consort of Barcelona. She was the author of the Liber Manualis, a handbook written for her son. Life Dhuoda, author of the Liber Manualis, was a significant Carolingian woman and writer from a powerful Austrasian family in Aachen. It has been speculated that her unusual name is an attempt to render the Basque name Toda, and that she may have been daughter of Sancho I, Duke of Gascony. She married Bernard, Duke of Septimania, at the Carolingian capital of Aachen in 824. The specific date of the wedding is contested. Some believe that it fell on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, which was the 24th of June, while others believe the date to be the 29th of June. Her husband Bernard was the son of William of Gellone, Duke of Toulouse and Charlemagne's cousin, who was later named the patron saint of knights. Bernard was a Count of Barcelona and during their marriage he was advisor to Emperor Louis and protector of the Empress Judith as well as being appointed to the office of chamberlain. There were reports of Judith and Bernard being guilty of adultery, sorcery, and attempted assassination. When Bernard broke his alliance with Charles the Bald, he took control of Toulouse but was later captured and decapitated. Their first son, William of Septimania, was born on 29 November 826, and the second, Bernard Plantapilosa, on 22 March 841. William was taken from his parents and put under the care of Charles the Bald when he was fourteen years old. While he was away, Dhouda began to write her handbook for him. Her youngest son was also taken from her, although he was taken by his father Bernard and the Bishop of Uzes in order to keep him safe. During this time, Bernard sent Dhuoda to live in Uzes while he was at court in Aachen. Dhuoda herself mentions very little of him during this time. According to Dhuoda, she spent this time struggling to maintain her husband's authority in their land and on the border of Francia. She fulfilled the administrative and military responsibilities of Frankish Septimania on Louis the Pious' behalf. One scholar has suggested that a daughter was born in 844, as one chronicler reports the marriage of William's sister.