Costumes of Frankish ladies of the nobility, ninth century. Illumination in the Bible of Charles the Bald, National Library, Paris. The ladies can evidently read, for all are holding rolls of parchment or manuscript books.
Click here to enlarge this image.
Literacy among nobles at the medieval Frankish court varied widely depending on the time period and the individual's role in society. During the early Middle Ages, particularly under the Merovingian dynasty (5th–8th centuries), literacy was relatively low, even among nobles. Reading and writing were largely the domain of the clergy, and most lay nobles relied on clerics to draft documents or read religious texts. However, this began to change under the Carolingian dynasty, especially during the reign of Charlemagne (768–814).
Charlemagne strongly promoted education and literacy as part of what is now called the Carolingian Renaissance. He established palace schools and encouraged the learning of Latin, the language of administration and the Church. Notable scholars, such as Alcuin of York, were brought to court to tutor royal children and train clerics and noble youths. Though many nobles were still not fully literate, it became increasingly common for those close to the court to receive at least a basic education in reading and writing.
Literacy was viewed as a mark of refinement and administrative competence, especially for those involved in governance. While the broader noble class remained largely illiterate for centuries, the Frankish court under Charlemagne helped lay the foundations for the gradual spread of literacy among Europe’s elite.
|
