Presents articles showing usefulness of gender as a category of historical analysis. This book includes papers that range more widely across early medieval time and geographical as well as social space, but most focus on the Carolingian period and on royalty and elites. It views workings of dynastic political power in social and political context.

A major theme in the present volume of articles by Janet Nelson is the usefulness of gender as a category of historical analysis. Some papers range more widely across early medieval time and geographical as well as social space, but most focus on the Carolingian period and on royalty and elites. The workings of dynastic political power are viewed in social as well as political context, and the author explores the realities of gendered power, which while constraining women, gave them distinctive possibilities for agency. These papers offer new perspectives on the Carolingian world in general and on Charlemagne's reign in particular.

'This Variorum edition of articles published between 1990 and 2004, along with one new essay, reconfirms Janet Nelson's role as one of the most important of contemporary voices in both medieval studies and gender history.' Early Medieval Europe '... [the author] is a giant in the field, who knows that myths concerning Charlemagne, which began before his corpse grew cold, are difficult to lay to rest.' H-France Review 'Professor Dame Janet Nelson has been rather more than just a participant in the recent work on courts, élites and gendered power that is attested by some of the essays here, which were first published in collections on those subjects: often she has been its instigator, or its inspiration. Since much of her published output has consisted of essays of this kind, which sometimes offer as much insight as many a book-length study, a compilation of her work on those themes over the last twenty-five years is very welcome.' English Historical Review