... Richard Sharpe 2 Gundulf and the Cathedral Communities of Canterbury and 15 Rochester Martin ... more ... Richard Sharpe 2 Gundulf and the Cathedral Communities of Canterbury and 15 Rochester Martin Brett 3 The Life and Writings of Osbern of Canterbury 27 Jay Rubenstein 4 The Beginnings of St Gregory's Priory and St John's Hospital in 41 Canterbury Tim Tatton-Brown 5 The ...
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1989
Modi di vita nel Medioevo (Bologna: I1 Mulino) is a popular account of early medieval mentalitts,... more Modi di vita nel Medioevo (Bologna: I1 Mulino) is a popular account of early medieval mentalitts, concentrating on the omnipresence of uncontrolled nature, war and death. E Graus (ed.), Mentalitaten im Mittelalter. Methodische und inhaltfiche frobleme (Sigmaringen: Thorbecke) included O.G. Oexle on the three orders: 'Deutungsschemata der sozialen Wirklichkeit im friihen und hohen Mittelalter. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Wissens'. U. Bestmann, F. Irsigler and J. Schneider (eds), Hochfinanz, Wirtschafrtaume, Innovationen. Festschrift fur Wolfgang von Stromer 3 vols. (Trier: Auenthal Verlag); the first volume includes three articles on the twelfth century; R. Holbach on a Genoese merchant family, S. Zoller on a Cologne merchant family and N. Fryde on leading figures in the English Exchequer. 4.02 Women's history receives a welcome boost with C. W. Bynum's Holy Feusf and Holy Fast; the Religious Sign$cance of Food to Medieval Women (California U.P., $12.95); most of the material in this book is post-1200 but the pre-1200 traditions of female asceticism are dwelt on too. R.I. Moore, in a lively study, looks for the roots of the persecution of heretics, Jews and lepers in the increasing literacy of eleventh-century Christian society: The Formation of a Persecuting Society (Blackwell, f24.95); B. Geremek, La potence ou la pifib. L'Europe et les pauvres du Moyen Age u nos fours (Gallimard, F150) should also be noted. General Mentalitks are flourishing. V. Fumagalli's Quando il cielo s'oscura. 4.03 in Medieval Europe (Chicago U.P., $45) traces the development of ideas about sex and marriage in canon law. W. Hartmann,, 'Unbekannte Kanones aus dein Westfrankenreich des 10. Jhdts' (Deutsches Archiv., 43), discovers and edits six hitherto unknown synodal decrees. R.J. Zawilla, 'The Sententia Ivonis carnotensis epbcopi de divinis oficiis, the "Norman School", and Liturgical Scholarship; study and edition' (Medieval Studr., 49), enlarges our knowledge of the interest shown in liturgical developments in Normandy, in this case in the early twelfth century. See also J.H. Lynch, 'Spiriruale Vinculum; the Vocabulary of Spiritual Kinshiip in early medieval Europe' in TEX. Noble and J.J. Contreni (eds), Religion, culture and society in the early middle ages (Kalamazoo: Med.Inst., $32.95; pbk $15.!)5). 4.04 On the papacy, there are two new biographies: P. Richt, Gerbert a"Aurillac, le pape de I'an mil (Fayard), and G.M. Cantarella, La costruzione della veritb, fusquale 11, un papa afle strette (Rome). B.-U. Hergemuller, 'Die Nameii der Reformpapste (1046-1 145): (Archivum Hbtoriae fontijiciae, 24, 1986) looks at the drive to internal reform within the Roman church. H.E. Hilpert gives extra support to R. Schieffer's thesis that Canossa preceded the real bust-up over investitures in Deutsches Archiv, 43. 4.05 On popular religion, E. Werner, 'Alla ricerca del Dio nascosto: ert:tici e riformatori radicali nel secolo XI' (Quaderni storici, 64), adds nothing new. M.
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1990
General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided ... more General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided into six chapters to provide one chapter for northern and one for southern Europe for each of three periods; the relevant ones for this period are the work of the late D. Whitton and Rosemary Morris. Considerations of space make the treatment something of a gallop. For a studied attempt at periodization. see P. Delogu (ed.). Periodi e conrenuti de1 tiiedio evo (Rome: II ventaglio), which tries to categorize the early, central and late middle ages. Jacques Le Goff. Merlievol civilization (Basil Blackwell. f22.50) is a translation of La civilistition tle l'ocrideirt riifdiPval, which first appeared in 1964. when it shocked conservatives iind Catholics by its resolute aim of treating civilisation in its broadest sense of popular attitudes and how they were shaped rather than concentrating o n medieval Europe's finest achievements. Lively. though superficial and now somewhat dated. it is the only comprehensive overview of medieval mentalites in English. A. Gurevich. Medieval popiilur ciiltiirc (CUP. f27.50) attempts to work out popular attitudes to death and religion from didactic religious literature. More profound than Le Goff. it is also more muddled. On Europe and the wider world, see J.R.S. Phillips. Tire rriedievd exparision of Europe (OUP. f27.50). pbk f8.95). a useful introduction to the question. and the idiosyncratic L.N. Gumilev, Searches for an inicrginary kiiigdoiri: the legend of the kirigdoni offrester John (CUP. 1987, f37.50). Neither, alas. really tries to sort out modern scholarship on the Letter of Prester John. At last. a work which tries to set medieval money. usually purely the preserve of numismatists, in its wider context: P. Spufford. Money uiitl its iise in i~ietlievcrl Europe (CUP. f50.00) is extremely informative but not so strong on synthesis. with paragraphs too short to allow for any development of an argument. The twelfth century is passed over rather quickly. especially where France and Spain are concerned. H.W. Goetz. 'Gottesfriede und Gemeindebildung' (Zeit. der Savigtiy-Stiftung fiir Rechtsgeschichte. Gernianisrisckc Abteilitrig. 105) says that nascent communes used similar concepts to the Peace of God movement because they grew out of the Same background, rather than being directly derived from it. E. Patlagean. 'Europe, seigneurie. feodalite: Marc Bloch et les limites orientales d'un espace de comparaison' (Studi niedievuli. 29) attacks Bloch for assuming that eastern Europe wasn't feudal. M. Mitterauer, '"Senioris sui nomine". Zur Verbreitung von Fiirstennamen durch das Lehenswesen' (Mitteilungen des Institiits fiir osterreickische Geschichtsforschung, 96) attributes the diminution of the number of forenames in circulation to the practice of naming sons for one's lord. One of the most ambitious publications of the year was the proceedings of the 1986 Monumenta Germaniae f Iistorica conference on medieval forgeries. Fiilsclzctngen inz Mittelulter. Internationaler Kongress der Monumenta Germaniae Historica (5 vols., Hanover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung). The first volume deals with forgery in narrative sources. the second with the punishment of forgers (mostly dealing with the proscriptions of canon law), the third and fourth with forged charters and the 24 CENTRAL MlDDLE AGES 2s fifth (more details below) with letters. Out of over 150 articles at least half deal with the 10th-12th centuries. Ecclesiastical and papal history E-D. Hehl (ed.), Die Konzilien Deutschlands
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1983
trends and the formation of courtly ideals 939-1210 (Pennsylvania U.P., $25) is an ambitious atte... more trends and the formation of courtly ideals 939-1210 (Pennsylvania U.P., $25) is an ambitious attempt to trace links between chivalric culture and revived classical learning, specially through the imperial court patronage of Germany. 'Medieval chivalry as a neo-classical institution' takes a bit of swallowing, but the discussion of texts and examples in the manner of Duby contains much of value to stimulate. J. Flori continues to add to the body of work which has made him a leading authority on medieval knights: 'Du nouveau sur I'adoubement des chevaliers' (Moyen Age, xci); 'A propos de I'adoubement des chevaliers au XIe siecle: le prktendu pontifical de Reims et I'ordo ad armandum de Cambrai' (Friihrnittelalt.
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1984
Arch. fur Erforsch. des Mittelalters, xxxviii), surveys zenophobic writing in the middle ages. K.... more Arch. fur Erforsch. des Mittelalters, xxxviii), surveys zenophobic writing in the middle ages. K.J. Leyser, 'Some reflections on twelfth-century kings and kingship' in Medieval Germany and its neighbours, 900-1250 (Hambledon, f24). is an original article in a volume of reprinted ones. Other general works include R. Fossier (ed),
General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided ... more General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided into six chapters to provide one chapter for northern and one for southern Europe for each of three periods; the relevant ones for this period are the work of the late D. Whitton and Rosemary Morris. Considerations of space make the treatment something of a gallop. For a studied attempt at periodization. see P. Delogu (ed.). Periodi e conrenuti de1 tiiedio evo (Rome: II ventaglio), which tries to categorize the early, central and late middle ages. Jacques Le Goff. Merlievol civilization (Basil Blackwell. f22.50) is a translation of La civilistition tle l'ocrideirt riifdiPval, which first appeared in 1964. when it shocked conservatives iind Catholics by its resolute aim of treating civilisation in its broadest sense of popular attitudes and how they were shaped rather than concentrating o n medieval Europe's finest achievements. Lively. though superficial and now somewhat dated. it is the only comprehensive overview of medieval mentalites in English. A. Gurevich. Medieval popiilur ciiltiirc (CUP. f27.50) attempts to work out popular attitudes to death and religion from didactic religious literature. More profound than Le Goff. it is also more muddled. On Europe and the wider world, see J.R.S. Phillips. Tire rriedievd exparision of Europe (OUP. f27.50). pbk f8.95). a useful introduction to the question. and the idiosyncratic L.N. Gumilev, Searches for an inicrginary kiiigdoiri: the legend of the kirigdoni offrester John (CUP. 1987, f37.50). Neither, alas. really tries to sort out modern scholarship on the Letter of Prester John. At last. a work which tries to set medieval money. usually purely the preserve of numismatists, in its wider context: P. Spufford. Money uiitl its iise in i~ietlievcrl Europe (CUP. f50.00) is extremely informative but not so strong on synthesis. with paragraphs too short to allow for any development of an argument. The twelfth century is passed over rather quickly. especially where France and Spain are concerned. H.W. Goetz. 'Gottesfriede und Gemeindebildung' (Zeit. der Savigtiy-Stiftung fiir Rechtsgeschichte. Gernianisrisckc Abteilitrig. 105) says that nascent communes used similar concepts to the Peace of God movement because they grew out of the Same background, rather than being directly derived from it. E. Patlagean. 'Europe, seigneurie. feodalite: Marc Bloch et les limites orientales d'un espace de comparaison' (Studi niedievuli. 29) attacks Bloch for assuming that eastern Europe wasn't feudal. M. Mitterauer, '"Senioris sui nomine". Zur Verbreitung von Fiirstennamen durch das Lehenswesen' (Mitteilungen des Institiits fiir osterreickische Geschichtsforschung, 96) attributes the diminution of the number of forenames in circulation to the practice of naming sons for one's lord. One of the most ambitious publications of the year was the proceedings of the 1986 Monumenta Germaniae f Iistorica conference on medieval forgeries. Fiilsclzctngen inz Mittelulter. Internationaler Kongress der Monumenta Germaniae Historica (5 vols., Hanover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung). The first volume deals with forgery in narrative sources. the second with the punishment of forgers (mostly dealing with the proscriptions of canon law), the third and fourth with forged charters and the 24 CENTRAL MlDDLE AGES 2s fifth (more details below) with letters. Out of over 150 articles at least half deal with the 10th-12th centuries. Ecclesiastical and papal history E-D. Hehl (ed.), Die Konzilien Deutschlands
Between 1170 and 1220 the cult of Thomas Becket had spread widely within Christendom, bearing wit... more Between 1170 and 1220 the cult of Thomas Becket had spread widely within Christendom, bearing with it the primary message that the Archbishop was a martyr who had died for the liberties of the Church, and in opposition to royal oppression. But no well-documented medieval cult, and certainly no major cult, is adequately characterized in such as simple and straightforward way. If ‘the causa beati Thome became the symbol of the rights of the church throughout the thirteenth century’ and beyond, this did not prevent it embracing other ideas and aspirations, some of them in apparent tension with each other, from the 1170s onwards. Over much of Europe the image of the Martyr’s fortitude confronting the King’s tyranny, already to some extent pre-sold in the propaganda of the exile years 1164 to 1170, required no qualification. In England, as Beryl Smalley has pointed out, ‘Writers had the more difficult task of combining loyalty to their king with defence of ecclesiastical freedom’, especi...
... Richard Sharpe 2 Gundulf and the Cathedral Communities of Canterbury and 15 Rochester Martin ... more ... Richard Sharpe 2 Gundulf and the Cathedral Communities of Canterbury and 15 Rochester Martin Brett 3 The Life and Writings of Osbern of Canterbury 27 Jay Rubenstein 4 The Beginnings of St Gregory's Priory and St John's Hospital in 41 Canterbury Tim Tatton-Brown 5 The ...
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1989
Modi di vita nel Medioevo (Bologna: I1 Mulino) is a popular account of early medieval mentalitts,... more Modi di vita nel Medioevo (Bologna: I1 Mulino) is a popular account of early medieval mentalitts, concentrating on the omnipresence of uncontrolled nature, war and death. E Graus (ed.), Mentalitaten im Mittelalter. Methodische und inhaltfiche frobleme (Sigmaringen: Thorbecke) included O.G. Oexle on the three orders: 'Deutungsschemata der sozialen Wirklichkeit im friihen und hohen Mittelalter. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Wissens'. U. Bestmann, F. Irsigler and J. Schneider (eds), Hochfinanz, Wirtschafrtaume, Innovationen. Festschrift fur Wolfgang von Stromer 3 vols. (Trier: Auenthal Verlag); the first volume includes three articles on the twelfth century; R. Holbach on a Genoese merchant family, S. Zoller on a Cologne merchant family and N. Fryde on leading figures in the English Exchequer. 4.02 Women's history receives a welcome boost with C. W. Bynum's Holy Feusf and Holy Fast; the Religious Sign$cance of Food to Medieval Women (California U.P., $12.95); most of the material in this book is post-1200 but the pre-1200 traditions of female asceticism are dwelt on too. R.I. Moore, in a lively study, looks for the roots of the persecution of heretics, Jews and lepers in the increasing literacy of eleventh-century Christian society: The Formation of a Persecuting Society (Blackwell, f24.95); B. Geremek, La potence ou la pifib. L'Europe et les pauvres du Moyen Age u nos fours (Gallimard, F150) should also be noted. General Mentalitks are flourishing. V. Fumagalli's Quando il cielo s'oscura. 4.03 in Medieval Europe (Chicago U.P., $45) traces the development of ideas about sex and marriage in canon law. W. Hartmann,, 'Unbekannte Kanones aus dein Westfrankenreich des 10. Jhdts' (Deutsches Archiv., 43), discovers and edits six hitherto unknown synodal decrees. R.J. Zawilla, 'The Sententia Ivonis carnotensis epbcopi de divinis oficiis, the "Norman School", and Liturgical Scholarship; study and edition' (Medieval Studr., 49), enlarges our knowledge of the interest shown in liturgical developments in Normandy, in this case in the early twelfth century. See also J.H. Lynch, 'Spiriruale Vinculum; the Vocabulary of Spiritual Kinshiip in early medieval Europe' in TEX. Noble and J.J. Contreni (eds), Religion, culture and society in the early middle ages (Kalamazoo: Med.Inst., $32.95; pbk $15.!)5). 4.04 On the papacy, there are two new biographies: P. Richt, Gerbert a"Aurillac, le pape de I'an mil (Fayard), and G.M. Cantarella, La costruzione della veritb, fusquale 11, un papa afle strette (Rome). B.-U. Hergemuller, 'Die Nameii der Reformpapste (1046-1 145): (Archivum Hbtoriae fontijiciae, 24, 1986) looks at the drive to internal reform within the Roman church. H.E. Hilpert gives extra support to R. Schieffer's thesis that Canossa preceded the real bust-up over investitures in Deutsches Archiv, 43. 4.05 On popular religion, E. Werner, 'Alla ricerca del Dio nascosto: ert:tici e riformatori radicali nel secolo XI' (Quaderni storici, 64), adds nothing new. M.
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1990
General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided ... more General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided into six chapters to provide one chapter for northern and one for southern Europe for each of three periods; the relevant ones for this period are the work of the late D. Whitton and Rosemary Morris. Considerations of space make the treatment something of a gallop. For a studied attempt at periodization. see P. Delogu (ed.). Periodi e conrenuti de1 tiiedio evo (Rome: II ventaglio), which tries to categorize the early, central and late middle ages. Jacques Le Goff. Merlievol civilization (Basil Blackwell. f22.50) is a translation of La civilistition tle l'ocrideirt riifdiPval, which first appeared in 1964. when it shocked conservatives iind Catholics by its resolute aim of treating civilisation in its broadest sense of popular attitudes and how they were shaped rather than concentrating o n medieval Europe's finest achievements. Lively. though superficial and now somewhat dated. it is the only comprehensive overview of medieval mentalites in English. A. Gurevich. Medieval popiilur ciiltiirc (CUP. f27.50) attempts to work out popular attitudes to death and religion from didactic religious literature. More profound than Le Goff. it is also more muddled. On Europe and the wider world, see J.R.S. Phillips. Tire rriedievd exparision of Europe (OUP. f27.50). pbk f8.95). a useful introduction to the question. and the idiosyncratic L.N. Gumilev, Searches for an inicrginary kiiigdoiri: the legend of the kirigdoni offrester John (CUP. 1987, f37.50). Neither, alas. really tries to sort out modern scholarship on the Letter of Prester John. At last. a work which tries to set medieval money. usually purely the preserve of numismatists, in its wider context: P. Spufford. Money uiitl its iise in i~ietlievcrl Europe (CUP. f50.00) is extremely informative but not so strong on synthesis. with paragraphs too short to allow for any development of an argument. The twelfth century is passed over rather quickly. especially where France and Spain are concerned. H.W. Goetz. 'Gottesfriede und Gemeindebildung' (Zeit. der Savigtiy-Stiftung fiir Rechtsgeschichte. Gernianisrisckc Abteilitrig. 105) says that nascent communes used similar concepts to the Peace of God movement because they grew out of the Same background, rather than being directly derived from it. E. Patlagean. 'Europe, seigneurie. feodalite: Marc Bloch et les limites orientales d'un espace de comparaison' (Studi niedievuli. 29) attacks Bloch for assuming that eastern Europe wasn't feudal. M. Mitterauer, '"Senioris sui nomine". Zur Verbreitung von Fiirstennamen durch das Lehenswesen' (Mitteilungen des Institiits fiir osterreickische Geschichtsforschung, 96) attributes the diminution of the number of forenames in circulation to the practice of naming sons for one's lord. One of the most ambitious publications of the year was the proceedings of the 1986 Monumenta Germaniae f Iistorica conference on medieval forgeries. Fiilsclzctngen inz Mittelulter. Internationaler Kongress der Monumenta Germaniae Historica (5 vols., Hanover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung). The first volume deals with forgery in narrative sources. the second with the punishment of forgers (mostly dealing with the proscriptions of canon law), the third and fourth with forged charters and the 24 CENTRAL MlDDLE AGES 2s fifth (more details below) with letters. Out of over 150 articles at least half deal with the 10th-12th centuries. Ecclesiastical and papal history E-D. Hehl (ed.), Die Konzilien Deutschlands
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1983
trends and the formation of courtly ideals 939-1210 (Pennsylvania U.P., $25) is an ambitious atte... more trends and the formation of courtly ideals 939-1210 (Pennsylvania U.P., $25) is an ambitious attempt to trace links between chivalric culture and revived classical learning, specially through the imperial court patronage of Germany. 'Medieval chivalry as a neo-classical institution' takes a bit of swallowing, but the discussion of texts and examples in the manner of Duby contains much of value to stimulate. J. Flori continues to add to the body of work which has made him a leading authority on medieval knights: 'Du nouveau sur I'adoubement des chevaliers' (Moyen Age, xci); 'A propos de I'adoubement des chevaliers au XIe siecle: le prktendu pontifical de Reims et I'ordo ad armandum de Cambrai' (Friihrnittelalt.
Annual bulletin of historical literature, Nov 1, 1984
Arch. fur Erforsch. des Mittelalters, xxxviii), surveys zenophobic writing in the middle ages. K.... more Arch. fur Erforsch. des Mittelalters, xxxviii), surveys zenophobic writing in the middle ages. K.J. Leyser, 'Some reflections on twelfth-century kings and kingship' in Medieval Germany and its neighbours, 900-1250 (Hambledon, f24). is an original article in a volume of reprinted ones. Other general works include R. Fossier (ed),
General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided ... more General G. Holmes, The Oxford illustrcr/ed history of niedieval Eltrope (OUP, f17.50) is divided into six chapters to provide one chapter for northern and one for southern Europe for each of three periods; the relevant ones for this period are the work of the late D. Whitton and Rosemary Morris. Considerations of space make the treatment something of a gallop. For a studied attempt at periodization. see P. Delogu (ed.). Periodi e conrenuti de1 tiiedio evo (Rome: II ventaglio), which tries to categorize the early, central and late middle ages. Jacques Le Goff. Merlievol civilization (Basil Blackwell. f22.50) is a translation of La civilistition tle l'ocrideirt riifdiPval, which first appeared in 1964. when it shocked conservatives iind Catholics by its resolute aim of treating civilisation in its broadest sense of popular attitudes and how they were shaped rather than concentrating o n medieval Europe's finest achievements. Lively. though superficial and now somewhat dated. it is the only comprehensive overview of medieval mentalites in English. A. Gurevich. Medieval popiilur ciiltiirc (CUP. f27.50) attempts to work out popular attitudes to death and religion from didactic religious literature. More profound than Le Goff. it is also more muddled. On Europe and the wider world, see J.R.S. Phillips. Tire rriedievd exparision of Europe (OUP. f27.50). pbk f8.95). a useful introduction to the question. and the idiosyncratic L.N. Gumilev, Searches for an inicrginary kiiigdoiri: the legend of the kirigdoni offrester John (CUP. 1987, f37.50). Neither, alas. really tries to sort out modern scholarship on the Letter of Prester John. At last. a work which tries to set medieval money. usually purely the preserve of numismatists, in its wider context: P. Spufford. Money uiitl its iise in i~ietlievcrl Europe (CUP. f50.00) is extremely informative but not so strong on synthesis. with paragraphs too short to allow for any development of an argument. The twelfth century is passed over rather quickly. especially where France and Spain are concerned. H.W. Goetz. 'Gottesfriede und Gemeindebildung' (Zeit. der Savigtiy-Stiftung fiir Rechtsgeschichte. Gernianisrisckc Abteilitrig. 105) says that nascent communes used similar concepts to the Peace of God movement because they grew out of the Same background, rather than being directly derived from it. E. Patlagean. 'Europe, seigneurie. feodalite: Marc Bloch et les limites orientales d'un espace de comparaison' (Studi niedievuli. 29) attacks Bloch for assuming that eastern Europe wasn't feudal. M. Mitterauer, '"Senioris sui nomine". Zur Verbreitung von Fiirstennamen durch das Lehenswesen' (Mitteilungen des Institiits fiir osterreickische Geschichtsforschung, 96) attributes the diminution of the number of forenames in circulation to the practice of naming sons for one's lord. One of the most ambitious publications of the year was the proceedings of the 1986 Monumenta Germaniae f Iistorica conference on medieval forgeries. Fiilsclzctngen inz Mittelulter. Internationaler Kongress der Monumenta Germaniae Historica (5 vols., Hanover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung). The first volume deals with forgery in narrative sources. the second with the punishment of forgers (mostly dealing with the proscriptions of canon law), the third and fourth with forged charters and the 24 CENTRAL MlDDLE AGES 2s fifth (more details below) with letters. Out of over 150 articles at least half deal with the 10th-12th centuries. Ecclesiastical and papal history E-D. Hehl (ed.), Die Konzilien Deutschlands
Between 1170 and 1220 the cult of Thomas Becket had spread widely within Christendom, bearing wit... more Between 1170 and 1220 the cult of Thomas Becket had spread widely within Christendom, bearing with it the primary message that the Archbishop was a martyr who had died for the liberties of the Church, and in opposition to royal oppression. But no well-documented medieval cult, and certainly no major cult, is adequately characterized in such as simple and straightforward way. If ‘the causa beati Thome became the symbol of the rights of the church throughout the thirteenth century’ and beyond, this did not prevent it embracing other ideas and aspirations, some of them in apparent tension with each other, from the 1170s onwards. Over much of Europe the image of the Martyr’s fortitude confronting the King’s tyranny, already to some extent pre-sold in the propaganda of the exile years 1164 to 1170, required no qualification. In England, as Beryl Smalley has pointed out, ‘Writers had the more difficult task of combining loyalty to their king with defence of ecclesiastical freedom’, especi...
Uploads
Papers by Richard Eales