——. Liber de laudibus sanctae crucis. In Vollständige Faksimile-Ausgabe im Original-format des
Codex Vindobonensis 652 der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, commentary by Kurt
Holter. 2 vols. Graz: Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt, 1972–73.
——. The Life of Saint Mary Magdalene and of Her Sister Saint Martha:A Twelfth-Century
Biography, trans. David Mycoff. Kalamazoo: Cistercian, 1989.
——. Martyrologium, ed. John McCulloh, and Liber de computo, ed. Wesley M.Stevens. CCCM
- Turahout: Brepols, 1979.
——. Poems. MGH Poetae 2.154–258.
Kottje, Raymund, and Harald Zimmermann. Hrabanus Maurus: Lehrer, Abt und Bisch of. Mainz:
Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, 1982.
Laistner, Max Ludwig Wolfram. Thought and Letters in Western Europe, A.D. 500 to 900. London:
Methuen, 1957.
Müller, Hans-Georg. Hrabanus Maurus: De laudibus sancta crucis. Studien zur Überlieferung und
Geistesgeschichte mit dem Faksimile-Textabdruck aus Codex Reg. Lat 124 der vatikanischen
Bibliothek. Ratingen: Henn, 1973.
Szoverffy, Josef. Weltliche Dichtungen des lateinsichen Mittelalters: Ein Handbuch. Berlin:
Schmidt, 1970, Vol. 1.
Turnau, Dietrich W. Rabanus Maurus, der Praeceptor Germaniae. Munich: Lindauer, 1900.
RADEGUND
(ca. 525–587). This “queen saint,” born a Thuringian princess, was captured in 531 by the
Franks and betrothed to Clotar I. The polygamous king raised her at Athies as his future
spouse. In her twenties, Radegund left her husband to found the monastery of Sainte-
Croix at Poitiers, which was eventually richly endowed by Clotar. Her life at the convent
is marked by the often violent political fighting among members of the royal family, but
also by an appreciation for learning and literary pursuits. The poet and apologist
Venantius Fortunatus (ca. 530–600) became her friend and eventually wrote one of her
biographies, the others being composed by Baudonivia, a sister nun, and Gregory of
Tours (ca. 538–594). In the biographies, Radegund is praised as an ardent ascetic and
exemplary leader of her religious house. The monastery, organized according to the rule
of Caesarius of Arles, stressed strict enclosure and education. Radegund left three lengthy
verse epistles (perhaps in part coauthored with Venantius Fortunatus) addressed to the
emperor Justin II and the empress Sophia of Byzantium, and to her cousin Hamalafred
and her nephew Artachis. All three texts testify to Radegund’s extensive education in
classical Latin and Germanic poetry and her skillful use of the genres.
Ulrike Wiethaus
[See also: CAESARIUS OF ARLES; LATIN POETRY, MEROVINGIAN;
PHILOSOPHY; POITIERS; WOMEN, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE OF]
Radegund. De excidio Thoringiae; Ad Iustinum et Sophiam Augustos; Ad Artachin. In Monumenta
Germaniae Historica: Auctores Antiquissimi, ed. Friedrich Leo. Berlin, 1881, Vol. 4, part 1, pp.
271–75.
McNamara, Jo Ann, John E.Halborg, and E.Gordon Whatley, eds. and trans. Sainted Women of the
Dark Ages. Durham: Duke University Press, 1992.
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