The Enigmatic Queen Balthild

A Medieval Portrait

Mar 07, 2025

A Saxon slave bought by a wealthy magnate in Merovingian Francia whose humble chastity and refusal of her master’s advances providentially led her to marry the king, Clovis II. After her husband’s death, she took the reigns of the kingdom, acting as queen-regent for her son, Chlothar III, growing into her role with confidence and strength, able to hold her own against the ‘old boy network’ of political factionalism and ecclesiastical affairs, only to be forcibly removed from her position the second her son came of age. She was no longer needed for the ambitious climb of the men she had placed high up into her retinue. She was left at the gate of a monastery she had founded and funded herself, begging to be admitted by the nuns, trying to convince them her desire to retire to a humble, modest life with them was genuine. She’s a bit of an enigmatic figure, loved and adored by some, hated and accused as a murderer of bishops and a Jezebel by others. This is the sainted Queen Balthild, the last significant Merovingian queen.

In honor of Women’s History Month, I thought I’d share a little about her. There will be plenty of posts on other more famous female historical figures. But I am drawn to the lesser-known ones, specifically from Late Antiquity / Early Middle Ages who don’t get as much fanfare. I wrote an essay for school last semester on female sanctity through the life of Queen Balthild. It made me a huge fan. Imagining all she went through stunned me. What a gal! One of the best books to read on her (and on many other women of her time) is Sainted Women of the Dark Ages, edited and translated by Jo Ann McNamara. It’s a compilation of stories (vitae) of the lives of female saints from that time era. It’s worth a read.

If her hagiographer (the author of her vita) is to be believed, she was an outstanding woman, worthy of sainthood, who excelled as a model in all her roles, whether slave, servant, queen, wife, mother, or nun. I have been struck by her seeming tenacity, resilience, strength, and adaptability. So ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Balthild, Queen of Neustria!

THE EARLY YEARS

Supposedly, Balthild was an Anglo-Saxon slave from England (although this is debated among scholars). She was purchased and brought over to Francia by the Neustrian Mayor of the Palace, Erchinoald. For a little context, at this time in the Merovingian realm, the throne’s power was waning. The ‘Mayors of the Palace’ (I call them MOPs) were slowly amassing more influence and control. They were the king’s right-hand man. They managed all executive administration, ran the royal estates, supervised governmental offices, and more. Eventually, the Merovingian dynasty was replaced by an aristocratic family full of MOPS, the Pippinid family (you might know them better as the Carolingians). So Erchinoald’s house wasn’t just any normal house. Being a slave—or chess piece, if you ascribe to some scholars' theories—in his sphere of influence and connections, helped set Balthild up for the roles she would eventually play.

After a while, Balthild had proven herself to be “an honorable woman with impeccable manners..She pleased her master and found favor in his eyes,” (McNamara, 269). So much so that Erchinoald made her his cupbearer and house keeper…pretty crucial roles for a slave girl. When Erchinoald’s wife died, he decided he would marry Balthild. Yet, Balthild wasn’t having this, so she hid herself under a pile of rags in the corner so Erchinoald couldn’t find her. Supposedly this worked, he gave up seeking her and married another. Her hagiographer praises her deeds in this, highlighting her modesty and desire for humility, preferring to be wed to her spiritual and heavenly spouse. But as they say in medieval times, we are all beholden to fate. And fate had other plans for Balthild. Her hagiographer jumps from the story of her avoiding Erchinoald’s advances to marriage with king Clovis II all in one sentence! She had suddenly gone from slave to queen. This is not a completely unfamiliar narrative for the Merovingians. There are at least three other Merovingian queens who were originally slaves that ended up on the throne (but that’s for another post).

QUEEN & QUEEN-REGENT

Balthild gave Clovis three sons and built an exceptional reputation as a generous and pious queen. She fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and “funneled large amounts of gold and silver to convents of men and virgins,” (McNamara, 270). When the king died, she stepped into the role of Queen-Regent and ruled the kingdom for her son, Clothar III, until he was of age. While ruling in her son’s stead, she was highly active in both political and ecclesiastical affairs. She was praised for ending simony (when people would buy the position of bishop), infanticide, the trading of slaves, and acting as a peace-maker and alliance-builder by orchestrating the marriage of her youngest son, Childeric, to the daughter of the deceased king of Austrasia, Sigibert. Balthild’s hagiographer claims that unity and peace among the three Merovingian kingdoms was Balthild’s doing (but keep in mind the bias and agenda of a hagiographer, they tended to sing high praises and sometimes exaggerate a little). She established and funded the monastery at Chelles, where she planned to retire after an illustrious career. She strategically placed many men into the high positions in the Church, planting bishops through out the realm that were loyal to the throne. There was a movement at the time of wealthy aristocratic families fundingmonasteries and using them and bishoprics as centers of their power and influence. Balthild’s placement of her bishops was an attempt to tip the scales in this power dynamic. I’m sure this made her quite a few enemies. She was a force to reckon with.

LIFE AS A NUN

However, as powerful as she was, she was still a woman. When her son Clothar III came to maturity, Balthild suddenly retired to the monastery at Chelles. But when and why this happened is murky. At this time a bishop was murdered by an MOP named Ebroin (a man whom Balthild had appointed). Her hagiographer says Balthild was against the murder. But her seemingly loyal retinue turned on her, forcing her to retire so they could follow through with their plans. Many scholars believe Balthild’s retirement was forced. Her son was of age and she had become expendable. In contrast, Balthild’s hagiographer makes it a point to say it was Balthild’s decision, she voluntarily went of her own accord. It is curious though, that the nuns refused to allow her to enter! She had to grovel and prove she genuinely wanted to become a nun and live a life of servitude with them. But they accused her of false motives. Yet, they eventually relented and let her join the community. So who knows how exactly it went down.

Once she was settled at Chelles, Balthild lived a humble, modest life for the next fifteen years. “She loved her sisters with the most pious affection as her own daughters and she obeyed their most holy abbess as a mother,” (McNamara, 274). However, shortly after her retirement her son Chlothar III died and then her son Childeric was murdered by Ebroin, the very man she had appointed as MOP. There isn’t much said about how she managed her grief in all this. That is one thing I wish the sources would do…allow us into the windows of these people’s hearts and minds. It is rare to hear their ownvoice, especially from women of this time. Balthild passed in 680 where she was buried in the Abbey of Chelles. In true saintly fashion, miracles occurred at her tomb.

There are multiple sources we can read to piece together Balthild’s life. But even then, there are still uncertainties and unknowns. Was she a pious, humble, generous woman or a conniving, greedy, power-hungry boss lady who ordered the murder of at least nine bishops…or maybe a little of both!? We’ll never fully know the enigmatic Balthild. But I can imagine with an epic life going from slave to queen to nun, she must have had a lot of character and gumption! What do you think?

The Novice Medievalist

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