# charles martel — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover charles martel. Page: Feed: --- ## [Portraying the Duke of Bavaria When You Can’t Know All the Facts](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/portraying-the-duke-of-bavaria-when) _2026-08-11 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Odilo, ruler of the Bavarians and my heroine’s love interest, has a murky background. That means a novelist must fabricate a lot of it, based on her best guesses. ## [Charles Martel’s failing health rattles Archbishop Boniface](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/07/28/charles-martels-failing-health-rattles-archbishop-boniface/) _2026-07-28 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Archbishop Boniface knew Charles Martel's failing health and the looming succession crisis had implications beyond Francia's borders. Continue reading ## [Creating an Early Medieval Heroine’s Childhood](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/creating-an-early-medieval-heroines) _2026-07-14 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Part of writing a novel is creating backstories for your characters, especially your protagonist. Even with historic early medieval characters, that backstory means guesswork and invention. ## [A Church Called Saint Discord](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/06/23/a-church-called-saint-discord/) _2026-06-23 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ The 8th-century churchman Virgil stepped right into a political conflict between two brothers-in-law: a de facto ruler of the Franks and the Duke of the Bavarians. Continue reading ## [Release day for ‘Duchess of the New Dawn’](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/release-day-for-duchess-of-the-new) _2026-06-16 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ My latest novel, starring the Frankish princess Chiltrude, comes out today, June 16. Find out why she inspired me. ## [Portraying Charles Martel as a difficult dad](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/portraying-charles-martel-as-a-difficult) _2026-06-09 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Charles was a hero to 8th century Franks, but people who stood in his way conveniently died. What is a novelist to do when he is the heroine’s father? ## [Charles Martel’s Complicated Birth Family](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/charles-martels-complicated-birth-family/) _2026-05-26 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Charles Martel (c. 686-741) had a complicated family life from the very beginning, one that spilled over into politics and war. Continue reading ## [A princess without a crown](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/a-princess-without-a-crown) _2026-05-12 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Chiltrude’s father, Charles Martel, was Francia's mayor of the palace, but he, not that guy on the throne, was really in charge. So, what did that make her? ## [Medieval Name Game: Reading Between the Lines](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/04/28/medieval-name-game-reading-between-the-lines/) _2026-04-28 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Names of Frankish aristocrats can imply the parents' expectations. Continue reading ## [Was a Dark Ages noblewoman better off as a queen or an abbess?](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/was-a-dark-ages-noblewoman-better) _2026-04-14 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ A high-ranking woman didn’t have any choice in whether she’s be a wife or nun, but either way, she could wield influence. ## [Web Coding With AI, Live (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/w4Cd0E5kCGCJ) _2026-04-14 · **Sponsored**_ Collaborative screen sharing with simultaneous remote control, open source. ## [Is It Better to Be a Medieval Abbess or Countess?](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/03/24/is-it-better-to-be-a-medieval-abbess-or-countess/) _2026-03-24 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ In the Dark Ages, noblewomen had two options: countess or abbess. Either way, a woman could influence the world around her. Continue reading ## [How Women’s History Affects Fiction in the Dark Ages](https://kimrendfeld.substack.com/p/how-womens-history-affects-fiction) _2026-03-10 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ If you're looking for gutsy heroines, consider early medieval times ## [An Unlikely Romance: King Pippin and Queen Bertrada](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/02/10/an-unlikely-romance-king-pippin-and-queen-bertrada/) _2026-02-10 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ In the 8th century, Pippin (later king) sought a divorce from his wife, Bertrada. After being denied, Pippin made Bertrada his full partner, Continue reading ## [Bishop Gewilib: A Bloody Vengeance for His Father](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/bishop-gewilib-a-bloody-vengeance-for-his-father/) _2026-01-13 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ When his father was slain in battle, 8th-century Bishop Gewilib did not leave vengeance to God. Continue reading ## [Childeric III, the Last Merovingian King](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2025/12/09/childeric-iii-the-last-merovingian-king/) _2025-12-09 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Who was Childeric III, the last Merovingian king of the Franks? Continue reading ## [Ruling in the Name of a Dead King](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/ruling-in-the-name-of-a-dead-king/) _2025-11-10 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ When Frankish King Theuderic IV died in 737, his mayor of the palace, Charles Martel, made an unprecedented choice. Instead of setting up a new king, Charles ruled in the name of the dead one. Continue reading ## [Why Merovingians claimed a sea monster as ancestor](https://kimrendfeld.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/why-merovingians-claimed-a-sea-monster-as-ancestor/) _2025-10-14 · Kim Rendfeld · Kim Rendfeld_ Like many ancient and early medieval rulers, Merovingians claimed supernatural ancestors. Theirs was a sea monster. Continue reading