Thématiques de recherche : genre et histoire des femmes ; polygynie et anthropologie sociale du mariage et de la parenté ; haut Moyen Âge ; Mérovingiens et Carolingiens
Thèse de doctorat : « Structure et enjeux des systèmes polygynes dans la société franque : la place des femmes dans le palais mérovingien du Ve au VIIIe siècle », soutenue le 20 novembre 2023 Supervisors: Sylvie Joye (HistCAnt-MA), Étienne Renard (PraMe) et Isabelle Heullant Donat (CERHiC)
The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, t... more The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, to gender studies, as it allows an in-depth reflection on both societal norms and the way we perceive them today. The historian’s vision has been biased for a long time by a dichotomic consideration of society, with a clear gendered partition where women would have been confined to the private, domestic sphere. Their actions were thus perceived as inconsequential at best, invisible at worst, for they were perpetually limited to private quarters and familial intimacy, while men’s authority and actions supposedly influenced the public sphere and politics in a larger measure. It would be a mistake, however, to keep considering that politics and familial intimacy should be studied separately. The palace environment in particular proves to be especially favorable to women’s authority, for they often benefit from a specific access to the sovereign that even major dignitaries can be deprived of,...
The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, t... more The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, to gender studies, as it allows an in-depth reflection on both societal norms and the way we perceive them today. The historian’s vision has been biased for a long time by a dichotomic consideration of society, with a clear gendered partition where women would have been confined to the private, domestic sphere. Their actions were thus perceived as inconsequential at best, invisible at worst, for they were perpetually limited to private quarters and familial intimacy, while men’s authority and actions supposedly influenced the public sphere and politics in a larger measure. It would be a mistake, however, to keep considering that politics and familial intimacy should be studied separately. The palace environment in particular proves to be especially favorable to women’s authority, for they often benefit from a specific access to the sovereign that even major dignitaries can be deprived of, seeing as they are generally not received privately by the ruling dynasty. Studying women’s quarters thus brings to light a mosaic of interdependent relationships, of intercessors, factional processes, and intricate political networks. Although women can be, and often are, limited in some specific ways, such as their physical presence within the public space, they can still achieve political relevance and play a key role within the palace hierarchy and court mechanics. In other words, women are not only instrumental in displaying royal authority but can, at times, fully embody it without specifically causing a break with tradition. Merovingian private quarters in particular offer a very meaningful example, in that they are a reflection of the Merovingian matrimonial practice—polygyny. By multiplying the female pole within the palatial structure, power and authority come into play, taking various shapes and influencing many areas of the political and private life of the sovereign.
Ce sujet se proposait comme une exploration de la question de la destruction des temples païens d... more Ce sujet se proposait comme une exploration de la question de la destruction des temples païens dans l'Empire romain, entre les deux grandes bornes chronologiques que sont le règne de Constantin, marqué par l'Édit de Milan, et celui de Justinien, lié à la fermeture de l'École philosophique d'Athènes. Au terme d'une première année d'étude, la problématique de départ a ensuite évolué en considérant non plus le terme de « temple », qui renvoyait davantage à la structure de l’édifice, pour privilégier celui de « sanctuaire », qui intégrait également la notion décorative comme la statuaire, ou encore les différentes pratiques et rites y étant liés. Cette évolution s'est en outre accompagnée d'une comparaison entre l’Orient et l’Occident, principalement dans une époque de forte transformation politique, ce qui pourrait induire une différenciation dans le traitement réservé aux sanctuaires païens.
The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, t... more The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, to gender studies, as it allows an in-depth reflection on both societal norms and the way we perceive them today. The historian’s vision has been biased for a long time by a dichotomic consideration of society, with a clear gendered partition where women would have been confined to the private, domestic sphere. Their actions were thus perceived as inconsequential at best, invisible at worst, for they were perpetually limited to private quarters and familial intimacy, while men’s authority and actions supposedly influenced the public sphere and politics in a larger measure. It would be a mistake, however, to keep considering that politics and familial intimacy should be studied separately. The palace environment in particular proves to be especially favorable to women’s authority, for they often benefit from a specific access to the sovereign that even major dignitaries can be deprived of,...
The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, t... more The question of women exercising power and influence appears to be central, if not fundamental, to gender studies, as it allows an in-depth reflection on both societal norms and the way we perceive them today. The historian’s vision has been biased for a long time by a dichotomic consideration of society, with a clear gendered partition where women would have been confined to the private, domestic sphere. Their actions were thus perceived as inconsequential at best, invisible at worst, for they were perpetually limited to private quarters and familial intimacy, while men’s authority and actions supposedly influenced the public sphere and politics in a larger measure. It would be a mistake, however, to keep considering that politics and familial intimacy should be studied separately. The palace environment in particular proves to be especially favorable to women’s authority, for they often benefit from a specific access to the sovereign that even major dignitaries can be deprived of, seeing as they are generally not received privately by the ruling dynasty. Studying women’s quarters thus brings to light a mosaic of interdependent relationships, of intercessors, factional processes, and intricate political networks. Although women can be, and often are, limited in some specific ways, such as their physical presence within the public space, they can still achieve political relevance and play a key role within the palace hierarchy and court mechanics. In other words, women are not only instrumental in displaying royal authority but can, at times, fully embody it without specifically causing a break with tradition. Merovingian private quarters in particular offer a very meaningful example, in that they are a reflection of the Merovingian matrimonial practice—polygyny. By multiplying the female pole within the palatial structure, power and authority come into play, taking various shapes and influencing many areas of the political and private life of the sovereign.
Ce sujet se proposait comme une exploration de la question de la destruction des temples païens d... more Ce sujet se proposait comme une exploration de la question de la destruction des temples païens dans l'Empire romain, entre les deux grandes bornes chronologiques que sont le règne de Constantin, marqué par l'Édit de Milan, et celui de Justinien, lié à la fermeture de l'École philosophique d'Athènes. Au terme d'une première année d'étude, la problématique de départ a ensuite évolué en considérant non plus le terme de « temple », qui renvoyait davantage à la structure de l’édifice, pour privilégier celui de « sanctuaire », qui intégrait également la notion décorative comme la statuaire, ou encore les différentes pratiques et rites y étant liés. Cette évolution s'est en outre accompagnée d'une comparaison entre l’Orient et l’Occident, principalement dans une époque de forte transformation politique, ce qui pourrait induire une différenciation dans le traitement réservé aux sanctuaires païens.
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and politics in a larger measure. It would be a mistake, however, to keep considering that politics and familial intimacy should be studied separately. The palace environment in particular proves to be especially favorable to women’s authority, for they often benefit from a specific access to the sovereign that even major dignitaries can be deprived of, seeing as they are generally not received privately by the ruling dynasty. Studying women’s quarters thus brings to light a mosaic of interdependent relationships, of intercessors, factional processes, and intricate political
networks. Although women can be, and often are, limited in some specific ways, such as their physical presence within the public space, they can still achieve political relevance and play a key role within the palace hierarchy and court mechanics. In other words, women are not only
instrumental in displaying royal authority but can, at times, fully embody it without specifically causing a break with tradition. Merovingian private quarters in particular offer a very meaningful example, in that they are a reflection of the Merovingian matrimonial practice—polygyny. By multiplying the female pole within the palatial structure, power and authority come into play, taking various shapes and influencing many areas of the political and private life of the sovereign.
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Books by Justine Cudorge
and politics in a larger measure. It would be a mistake, however, to keep considering that politics and familial intimacy should be studied separately. The palace environment in particular proves to be especially favorable to women’s authority, for they often benefit from a specific access to the sovereign that even major dignitaries can be deprived of, seeing as they are generally not received privately by the ruling dynasty. Studying women’s quarters thus brings to light a mosaic of interdependent relationships, of intercessors, factional processes, and intricate political
networks. Although women can be, and often are, limited in some specific ways, such as their physical presence within the public space, they can still achieve political relevance and play a key role within the palace hierarchy and court mechanics. In other words, women are not only
instrumental in displaying royal authority but can, at times, fully embody it without specifically causing a break with tradition. Merovingian private quarters in particular offer a very meaningful example, in that they are a reflection of the Merovingian matrimonial practice—polygyny. By multiplying the female pole within the palatial structure, power and authority come into play, taking various shapes and influencing many areas of the political and private life of the sovereign.