Chapter 27 Summary

As one of her first directives, Joan wants Rome's Marcian acqueduct rebuilt. All engineering information about their construction was lost in history, and Joan challenges Gerold to lead the project.

Joan's position keeps her extremely busy with religious rituals, holidays, masses and feasts. The practice of intinction, which she introduced at Fulda, has been widely discussed and mostly accepted. She is concerned about Gottschalk, whom she helped liberate from the abbey, and whose heresy case has come before the synod. She agrees to refute Gottschalk's pessimistic theories, but condemns Archibishop Raban, formerly the abbot at Fulda, for his harsh treatment of him. Forty two canons are passed that reform ecclesiastical education and discipline, earning Joan the respect of her colleagues. However, when she opens a school for women, their shock is palpable. But Joan soothes them with diplomacy and continues to have their...