Authorities in the Middle Ages: Influence, Legitimacy, and Power in Medieval Society (Fundamentals of Medieval and Early Modern Culture Book 12)

Medievalists reading and writing about and around authority-related themes lack clear definitions of its actual meanings in the medieval context. Authorities in the Middle Ages offers answers to this thorny issue through specialized investigations. This book considers the concept of authority and explores the various practices of creating authority in medieval society. In their studies sixteen scholars investigate the definition, formation, establishment, maintenance, and collapse of what we understand in terms of medieval struggles for authority, influence and power. The interdisciplinary nature of this volume resonates with the multi-faceted field of medieval culture, its social structures, and forms of communication. The fields of expertise include history, legal studies, theology, philosophy, politics, literature and art history. The scope of inquiry extends from late antiquity to the mid-fifteenth century, from the Church Fathers debating with pagans to the rapacious ghosts ruining the life of the living in the Sagas. There is a special emphasis on such exciting but understudied areas as the Balkans, Iceland and the eastern fringes of Scandinavia. 1. Introduction: The Authority of the Written Word, the Sacred Object, and the Spoken Word: A Highly Contested Discourse in the Middle Ages. With a Focus on the Poet Wolfram von Eschenbach and the Mystic Hildegard von Bingen / Classen, Albrecht. Pp. 1-26. 2. "But Our Customs are Older": The Authority of Antiquity in Late Antique Debates (in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries C.E.) / Kahlos, Maijastina. Pp. 27-38. 3. A Divine Mandate: Pope Gregory Vll's Defense of Papal Authority / Grant, Ken A. Pp. 39-54. 4. A Great Stirring of Hearts or Papal Inspiration? Contesting Popular Authority in the Preaching of the First Crusade / Kangas, Sini. Pp. 55-68. 5. Fabricating Philosophical Authority in the Twelfth Century: The Liber Egerimion and the "De septem septenis" / Németh, Csaba. Pp. 69-88. 6. Adapting Authority: The Harrowing of Hell on Two Romanesque Baptismal Fonts / Bradley, Jill. Pp. 89-106. 7. Authority, Text, and Genre in Accounts of Diocesan Struggle: The Bishops of Bath and Glastonbury and the Uses of Cartulary Evidence / Sutherland-Harris, Robin. Pp. 107-122. 8. "What Jesus means is...": The Dominican Order as Theological Authority for Laity and Clergy in Medieval Northern Europe / Jakobsen, Johnny Grandjean Gøgsig. Pp. 123-144. 9. Predestination and the Two Cities: The Authority of Augustine and the Nature of the Church in Giles of Rome and John Wyclif / Otto, Sean A. Pp. 145-160. 10. From Fist to Scepter: Authority in Norway in the Middle Ages / Bagge, Sverre. Pp. 161-182. 11. "Je, aucteur de ce livre": Authorial Persona and Authority in French Medieval Histories and Chronicles / Bratu, Cristian. Pp. 183-204. 12. Rituals for the Restless Dead: The Authority of the Deceased in Medieval Iceland / Kanerva, Kirsi. Pp. 205-228. 13. Marco Polo and John Mandeville: The Traveler as Authority Figure, the Real and the Imaginary / Classen, Albrecht. Pp. 229-248. 14. Motherhood as Authority in the "Life of Queen Helen" by Archbishop Daniel II / Vukovich, Alexandra F. Pp. 249-266. 15. Symbols and Soldiers: English Royal Authority in Gascony, 1355-1356 / Madden, Mollie. Pp. 267-284. 16. Empowered Spouses: Matrimonial Legal Authority in Sweden 1350-1442 / Vainio, Charlotte. Pp. 285-306. Authorities In The Middle Ages Investigates The Definition, Establishment, Maintenance, And Collapse Of Medieval Authority From Antiquity To The Mid-fifteenth Century. The Interdisciplinary Approach Resonates With The Multi-faceted Field Of Medieval Culture, Its Social Structures, And Various Forms Of Communication, Including The Area Of History, Legal Studies, Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Literature, And Art History. There Is A Special Emphasis On Such Exciting But Understudied Areas As The Balkans, Iceland And The Eastern Fringes Of Scandinavia. Authorities in the Middle Ages investigates the definition, establishment, and collapse of medieval authority from antiquity to the mid-fifteenth century. The interdisciplinary approach resonates with the multi-faceted field of medieval culture, its social structures, and various forms of communication, in various disciplines.