Handbook for William: A Carolingian Woman's Counsel for Her Son, trans. by Carol Neel

Sources chrétiennes #225

by Dhuoda

"I send you this little book written down in my name, that you may read it for your education, as a kind of mirror."

So wrote the Frankish noblewoman Dhuoda to her young son William in the middle of the ninth century. Intended as a guide to right conduct, the book was to be shared in time with William's younger brother. Dhuoda's situation was poignant. Her husband, Bernard, the count of Septimania, was away and she was separated from her children. William was being held by Charles the Bald as a guarantee of his father's loyalty, and the younger son's whereabouts were unknown. As war raged in the crumbling Carolingian Empire, the grieving mother, fearing for the spiritual and physical welfare of her absent sons, began in 841 to write her loving counsel in a handbook. Two years later she sent it to William.

Handbook for William memorably expresses Dhuoda's maternal feelings, religious fervor, and learning. In teaching her children how they might flourish in God's eyes, as well as humanity's, Dhuoda reveals the authority of Carolingian women in aristocratic households. She dwells on family relations, social order, the connection between religious and military responsibility, and, always, the central place of Christian devotion in a noble life.

Genres: History, Medieval, Nonfiction, Catholic, Theology, Carolingian, College

163 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 843

Reviews

[🌜Elliot🌛 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read for class…. Did absolutely nothing for me. That’s on me though.

[Nicholas Zacharewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who still has a mother in their life, read this book and you will instantly feel guilt bubbling up if you haven’t called her in the last two weeks. Dhuoda’s sincerity can be felt even through the screens of translation and time, and it is clear that a great deal of care for her teenage son went into this book.

As to the actual advice she gives?

I think it can be boiled down two a two-clause summary with ease:

Keep that whole eighth century tier list of priorities top of mind (God, Country, Family), and don’t fall in with the wrong crowd by succumbing to the temptation of earthly delights.

If you grew up in or are currently adjacent to almost any sort of Christianity, you’re probably pretty familiar with most of her advice. Which is unsurprising since the core tenets of such long lasting religions tend not to change very much despite the shaggy layer of dust that settles on them over the centuries.

Nonetheless, I think that it’s interesting to read past perspectives on enduring and present concerns. And it definitely seems like no matter who I talk to parenting/“growing up right” is indeed such a concern. But I can also see why this book has, as far as I can tell, stayed in the academic realm. It's a neat artifact, but it's not going to rocket to the top of any charts any time soon.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting manual of a Carolingian noble woman to his son, which encompassed a spiritual guide. Especially dedicated to the love of God, his father, and his king, it is a jewel of this age for it is one of the few witnesses of laywomen. At the same time, her erudition shines by her knowledge of Scripture. It's a shame her oldest son, to whom this book is dedicated, actually didn't pay much attention and ended up joining forces with Muslims, betraying his family's project.

[Keith Beasley-Topliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the early 840s, a woman named Dhuoda in what today is the south of France, wrote a handbook of advice on living (etiquette, prayer, finding a mentor, honoring those above him, benefiting those below him, etc.) for her son William who was being fostered in the court of Charles the Bald (and so a hostage against his father's good behavior). She wrote (or dictated) in Late Latin. Her handbook is the only surviving book by a Carolingian era woman. This English translation needs copious footnotes to (attempt to) give constant scriptural references as well as references to early Christian writings, possible alternate readings, etc. It is not a quick read. But it is a very interesting window on a largely forgotten period in the Early Middle Ages.
A special thanks is due to Amy Oden, whose book In Her Words includes a brief excerpt that introduced me to Dhuoda and referred me to this edition.

[Small Gold Sceptre]

A book of advice, mostly spiritual, by a mother writing to a teenage son she'd been separated from.

I loved Dhuoda's frank honesty about her struggles to love prayer, and trust in God in her weakness, her deep love for her sons, and her fervent faith. It's beautiful and refreshing to read the words of a medieval mother, and find similar struggles, and similar desires to those I experience in the 21st century.

[Carla Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text bunks all sorts of stereotypes. Most noteworthy: The Early Middle Ages were NOT Dark, laymen DID have access to Scripture and the writings of the Ancients, and WOMEN - at least those of the noble classes - could read and write in fluent Latin and had studied Alcuin, Augustine,and Aristotle. Who knew?

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dhuoda's book for her son presents a fascinating view of Carolingian life. Her deep familiarity with learning and her confidence in presenting guidance cannot but impress.

[Michael Spires · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse into the world of the middle ninth century, through the eyes of a noblewoman writing a book of advice for her teen-aged son since he had been called away from her to serve as a hostage at the imperial court against his father's good behavior. Although Dhuoda's advice to her son is more spiritual than secular, there is plenty of the latter to go around--and many of the examples Dhuoda puts in for her son can be read as criticisms of the behavior of the high and mighty at court, particularly the three sons of the emperor Charlemagne.

Although it is not clear whether Dhuoda wrote this book herself or dictated it to someone else, it is nevertheless a work of considerable erudition and speaks very highly of the level of education at the imperial court, even among the laity. Also notable, despite the heavy concentration on the spiritual well-being of her son, is Dhuoda's conviction that the lay state, and everyday secular activities, could have positive value. This is an attitude that is sadly rare even today in Catholic theology, and was far less common in earlier times.

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book in league with "the Prince." However, Dhuoda was writting hundreds of years before Macchiavelli.

The mother's advice to her son is how to navigate the political waters of Dark Ages France. The easy-to-read book is an excellent description of daily life for the nobility. Let me emphasize that the nobility of this era were not those of the High Middle Ages with fairy tale castles and shinning armor. These people were more of an equivolent of an "upper middle class" in terms of income, luxuries, education, and legal rights.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first 3 books are an incredibly elaborate theological abstraction of feudalism, but once you get past that it really gets into the nuts and bolts of being a "King's Mirror". Other fascinating points are it shows just how much of an emphasis the Carolingian Court really did place on learning, which is evidenced by the works of people such as Alcuin, but it's still interesting to see it from an in context primary source perspective.

[Anna]

A Carolingian woman wrote this handbook of counsel for her teenage son, about how to be morally upright, successful among his peers, etc. Somewhat interesting to get an idea of what life was like back then and what Dhuoda’s ideals were.

[Trent Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most remarkable book i have ever read and possibly the sweetest. I hope I am half as eloquent as she was when writing to my children

[Rachel Gurevich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and rare first-hand testimony from a medieval woman

[Hannah]

Shout out to reading for class. It was v religious and sad