π§ The Queens Who Fought for 40 Years
π§ Gone Medieval
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30m
We've all heard epic tales of early medieval kings, but what about the queens? It doesn't get much more spectacularly brutal than Brunhild and Fredegund, two sixth century queens who fought a bloody civil war against one another that lasted no less than four decades.
The rival matriarchs also commanded armies, developed taxation policies, established infrastructure and negotiated with emperors & popes... yet their story has been largely forgotten, until now. In this episode for International Women's Day, Cat is joined by award-winning poet and writer Shelley Puhak, whose new book "The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World" tells this gripping tale of power, ambition and murderous rivalry in early medieval France.
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