Family in the Middle Ages: The Example of the Ottonian Dynasty

Magistrsko delo z naslovom Družina v srednjem veku: Primer dinastije Otonov obsega teoretična izhodišča moralnih in družbenih norm, ki so veljale v visokoplemiških krogih srednjega veka. V nadaljevanju je predstavljeno življenje Otonov, saške rodbine, ki je v 10. in 11. stoletju krojila politično dogajanje v osrednjem delu današnje Evrope. Namen magistrskega dela je bil raziskati življenje in medsebojne odnose prve nemške cesarske rodbine ter opozoriti na odstopanja od tedaj pričakovanega načina življenja posameznikov omenjene rodbine. Osrednji del naloge predstavlja teoretična izhodišča, ki pomagajo razumeti položaj posameznika v visokoplemiški družbi srednjega veka, nadalje pa je podrobneje predstavljena rodbina Otonov, kjer sta izstopajoči dve ženski predstavnici. Adelaida Borgundska in Teofana, tašča in snaha, sta se v zgodovino zapisali kot izredno odločni predstavnici Otonske dinastije. Obe sta rodbini zagotovili moške naslednike, obe sta zgodaj ovdoveli, obe nastopili kot regentki Otonu III. Skozi predstavitev življenja Otonske dinastije med letoma 919 in 1024 so tako predstavljene vzporednice in odmiki od tedaj značilnega življenja visokoplemiške družine, s pomočjo razpoložljive literature in virov pa so začrtani odnosi med posameznimi družinskimi člani.The master’s thesis Family in the Middle Ages: The Example of the Ottonian Dynasty introduces theoretical bases describing the moral and social norms, followed by members of high nobility in the Middle Ages, as well as the lives of members of this Saxon family that in the 10th and 11th century shaped the political situation in what is now the central part of Europe. The purpose of the master’s thesis was to study the life and interpersonal relationships of the first German imperial dynasty and to highlight the deviations from the then expected lifestyle of individuals from the aforementioned family. The central part of the master’s thesis covers theoretical bases that clarify the position of an individual within the noble society of the Middle Ages, and presents the Ottonian dynasty in more detail, including two prominent female representatives. Adelaide of Burgundy and Theophanu, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, who are both remembered in history as very determined representatives of the Ottonian dynasty. Both gave birth to male heirs, both became widows early, and both acted as a regent for Otto III. Through the presentation of the life of the Ottonian dynasty between 919 and 1024, parallels and deviations from the then characteristic life of a high noble family are presented, and the relations between individual family members are outlined on the basis of available literature and sources