User:Lainie

Liutgard of Luxeuil

Liutgard of Luxeuil

About the new persona-

For 21 years, I was Elaine de Montgris. First late 12th c, then late 14th-early 15th c persona, French, Norman and Poitevin.

But about 5 years ago I began doing more research into the Carolingian era, and developed a particular fascination for Charlemagne. The more I read about him the more I was in awe. Amazing human being, and I would love to have known him.

I began to look into the Carolingian culture, and became particularly interested in the literature, educational and religious trends. Then it was architecture, and clothing, and food... in short, I was hooked.

So now, with a persona who was old enough to drink, I decided to make a change.

My new name is Liutgard of Luxeuil. Liutgard is pronounced (bad phonetic spelling here) (h)Lyootgard of Looksoy(eh). Luxeuil is the hard part- In Latin it was Luxovium. But right around 800 language was seriously in flux. The Old Frankish split- in those lands to the east, where the Germanic culture was strongest, it became Old German. To the south and southwest, the Gallic and Latin influence was strong, and it became Old French. And in the northwest, it became Old Dutch. But Luxeuil is about 100 miles south of Geneva, pretty well in the nexus of the French/German split. So I posed the question of pronunciation to some medievalists on an academic list I'm on. They suggested the above pronunciation is probably the closest and remarked that there aren't any Carolingians around to correct my pronunciation. :-)

Luxeuil is the home of one of two monasteries founded by St Columbanus in the 6th century (the other being Corbie), and was one of the most famous centers of learning in Frankish lands. A hard-to-read calligraphic hand (Luxeuil) was created there (later superseded by the Carolingian Miniscule, developed at Corbie). Liutgard might have grown up hearing the bells of the monastery ringing the hours, and was perhaps taught to read and write at the abbey, in one of the schools established by King Charles (Charlemagne). As an adult (somewhere 780-800ish), she is a learned woman, a scholar devoted to dissemination of literature and theology. And she likes to argue with Alcuin. :-)