The birth of her son led to a major dispute over the imperial succession, and tensions between her and Charles' half-brothers from Louis' first marriage.

Though the Welfs were noble, they were not part of the '"Imperial Aristocracy'" (Reichsaristokratie) that dominated high office throughout the Carolingian empire.

The Welf clan's leaders, having lost influence in their home region of Alemannia (present-day southwestern Germany and northern Switzerland) eventually rose to power through cementing familial ties with the Carolingian Imperial Aristocracy in the 770s.

[1] Nonetheless, they remained a part of the upper aristocracy (Hochadel) of their region, given the numerous appearances of the noble titles of ducal (duke) and comital (counts) in primary sources.

It is at the bride show that, at the age of forty one, Louis chose the young Judith "after inspecting noble maidens who were brought to his court from all districts".

[4] In Frankish society, only women of the nobility were eligible to compete; this specific trait is highlighted in the Regesta Imperii[clarification needed], where Judith is referred to as stemming from a noble lineage (Edlen Geschlecht).

Contemporary witnesses such as Ermoldus Nigellus, Walahfrid Strabo, and Louis' biographer Thegan attributed Judith's selection to her extraordinary beauty,[5] intelligence, and musical ability.

While scholars differ as to whether the Welfs were of Frankish or Alemannian descent, it is clear that they controlled significant territories to the east of the Rhine, and were predominant political actors in both Bavaria and Alemannia.

[1] This fact would have made them desirable allies for Louis, since any military campaign in the empire's eastern frontiers would require the emperor to travel through this region.

By marrying Judith, in other words, the emperor would effectively gain friends and allies, an important military and political stronghold, and the support of the nobility in that region.

When Louis married his first wife Ermengard in 794, she was crowned and called "augusta", a title that harkens back to the Roman "augustus".

The most likely cause of this gap is that Judith would only rise to historical prominence when she became involved in her son's, Charles The Bald, life as an advocate for his career as successor to the throne.

Sources tell us that Judith's and the steward of the court's (Kämmerer)[1] duties included, among others: caring that she, her servants and the King himself, particularly his jewelry, looked presentable and of appropriate appearance, overseeing the transfer of the yearly tribute (Abgabe der Vasallen)[1] and ensuring that the emperor was free to focus on ruling the kingdom, without distraction of minor details like the court's appearance.

[1] Freculf of Lisieux dedicated the second half of his Twelve Books of Histories to her, praising her erudition, pointing to her role as a patron of culture and learning.

[1] Having her own administration was not only instrumentally important in ensuring a smooth running of the court and the daily affairs of the palace, but also a political necessity.

Consequently, it became of the utmost importance for Judith to secure the throne for her son and protect him from the attacks and threats that his paternal brothers posed.

This strategic move meant Charles would have a political tie in the eventual disputes succession that would inevitably follow Louis' death.

A major sticking point that concerned Lothar was Louis' nineteen-year-old nephew Bernard of Italy getting in the way of his eventual rise to power.

Bernard was blinded and would eventually die on 17 April 818[9] The birth of Charles as well as Lothar's marriage in 821 meant that two imperial households were now vying for control.

Judith was accused of having an incestuous relationship with Louis the Pious's godson, Bernard of Septimania (who was the lynchpin of her court).

She sent troops to assist Charles in his endeavour to secure Aquitaine and the majority of Francia in order to reduce the number of competitors.

Agobard of Lyons, a supporter of Lothar, wrote two tracts Two Books in Favor of the Sons and Against Judith the Wife of Louis in 833.

[4] Paschasius Radbertus accused Judith by associating her with the engagement in debauchery and witchcraft, of filling the palace with "soothsayers... seers and mutes as well as dream interpreters and those who consult entrail, indeed all those skilled in malign craft".

Characterized as a Jezebel and a Justina[clarification needed], Judith was accused by one of her enemies, Paschasius Radbertus, of engaging in debauchery and witchcraft with her purported lover, Count Bernard of Septimania, Louis' chamberlain and trusted adviser.

[2] The poems depict her as "a second biblical Judith, a Mary sister of Aaron in her musical abilities, a Saphho, a prophetess, cultivated, chaste, intelligent, pious, strong in spirit, and sweet in conversation".

[13] Prior to Easter Week in 830 (17–24 April) Pippin, with Lothar's consent, and with a large proportion of the people "took away from the Emperor his royal power, and also his wife".

Judith was veiled ("the female equivalent of tonsuring rival claimants to the throne"[13]) and sent to the convent of St Radegund at Poitiers in the same year.

It was during this turbulent political to-and-fro that followers of Louis the Pious who were in Italy, Bishop Ratold, Count Boniface and Pippin among them, heard of a plot to kill Judith.

In April of that same year, Charles received his crown and all of his royal attire, which contemporaries of the time herald as a divine act.

With the introduction of a new queen, Judith became of ex officio importance, resulting in her forced retirement as well as withdrawal of the lands and wealth under her control.