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- The Visions of Childeric I and Queen Basine
by Koren Whipp
Basine, or Basina (c. 438 -77 CE) Childeric I , King of the Salian Franks, was driven from his kingdom and sought refuge with the king of Thuringia, King Bisinus . While in exile, Basine, the wife of King Bisinus, either “conceived a passion for” or was “seduced” by Childeric.[1] When Childeric returned to his kingdom, Basine abandoned her husband, and followed Childeric to ask for his hand in marriage. He accepted, they were married, and Basine became Queen of the Franks.
In the legend, Basine is given the volition in the love-match marriage with Childeric, as well as oracular powers which associate her with magical figures, such as Rhiannon, from the medieval Welsh manuscripts, the Mabinogion.[2]
Basine had four children with Childeric; Clovis I, who succeeded his father in 481 CE at the age of 15; Audofleda, who later gave birth to Amalasuntha; Lanthilde; and Abolflede.
[1] Mary Hays, “Basine, or Bazine,” Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women of all Ages and Countries (6 volumes) (London: R. Phillips, 1803), vol, 1, 242-44, on 242.
[2] Zina Pettersen, “Basine, or Bazine,” Mary Hays, Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of All Ages and Countries (1803). Chawton House Library Series: Women’s Memoirs, ed. Gina Luria Walker, Memoirs of Women Writers Part II. Pickering & Chatto: London, 2013. vol. 5, 338-40, editorial notes, 465.
Bibliography
Bayle, Pierre. The Dictionary Historical and Critical of Mr. Peter Bayle. New York: Garland, 1984.
Dreux du Radier, J. F. Memoires Historique, Critiques, et Anecdotes de France. Tome Premier, Premier Partie. Amsterdam: Chez Neaulme, Libraire, à la Bible, 1764.
Daniel, Gabriel. The history of France, from the time the French monarchy was establish’d in Gaul, to the death of Lewis the fourteenth. London, 1726.
Gregory of Tours. Historia Francorum, Edited by Lewis Thorpe. New York: Penguin Classics, 1974.
Hays, Mary. “Basine, or Bazine.” Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women of all Ages and Countries (6 volumes). London: R. Phillips, 1803, vol, 1, 242-44.
La Croix, Jean François de. Dictionnaire historique portatif des femmes célèbres. Paris: L. Cellot, 1769.
Perry, Walter C. The Franks, From their First Appearance in History to the Death of King Pepin. 1857.
Pettersen, Zina. “Basine, or Bazine.” Mary Hays, Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of All Ages and Countries (1803). Chawton House Library Series: Women’s Memoirs, ed. Gina Luria Walker, Memoirs of Women Writers Part II. Pickering & Chatto: London, 2013. vol. 5, 338-40, editorial notes, 465.
Sergeant, Lewis. The Franks, From their Origin as a Confederacy to the Establishment of the Kingdom of France and the German Empire. London : T.F. Unwin, 1898.
Ternaux, J. “Les Trois Visions de Childeric de Pierre Boton: Les memorables faits à venir’, Nouvelle Revue du Seiziemème Siécle, 15.1 (1997): 107–118.
Resources:
Brooklyn Museum
Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Basine
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/basine.php
Page citation:
Koren Whipp. “Basine.” Project Continua (January 24, 2014): Ver. 1, [date accessed], http://www.projectcontinua.org/basine/
Tags: Europe, Medieval, Queens
