Bishops, Authority and Community in Northwestern Europe, c.1050–1150 (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series, Series Number 102)

This important new study of episcopal office and clerical identity in a socially and culturally dynamic region of medieval Europe examines the construction and representation of episcopal power and authority in the archdiocese of Reims during the sometimes turbulent century between 1050 and 1150. Drawing on a wide range of diplomatic, hagiographical, epistolary and other narrative sources, John S. Ott considers how bishops conceived of, and projected, their authority collectively and individually. In examining episcopal professional identities and notions of office, he explores how prelates used textual production and their physical landscapes to craft historical narratives and consolidate local and regional memories around ideals that established themselves as not only religious authorities but also cultural arbiters. This study reveals that, far from being reactive and hostile to cultural and religious change, bishops regularly grappled with and sought to affect, positively and to their advantage, new and emerging cultural and religious norms. This Important New Study Of Episcopal Office And Clerical Identity In A Socially And Culturally Dynamic Region Of Medieval Europe Examines The Construction And Representation Of Episcopal Power And Authority In The Archdiocese Of Reims During The Dynamic And Sometimes Turbulent Century From 1050 To 1150. Drawing On A Wide Range Of Diplomatic, Hagiographical, And Other Narrative Sources, John S. Ott Considers How Bishops Conceived Of And Projected Their Authority Collectively And Individually. In Examining Episcopal Professional Identities And Notions Of Office, He Explores How Prelates Used Textual Production And Their Physical Landscapes To Craft Historical Narratives And Consolidate Local And Regional Memories Around Ideals That Established Themselves As Not Only Religious Authorities But Cultural Arbiters. This Study Reveals That, Far From Being Reactive And Hostile To Cultural And Religious Change, Bishops Regularly Grappled With And Sought To Affect, Positively And To Their Advantage, New And Emerging Cultural And Religious Norms. 1. The Bishop And His Authority -- 2. Becoming Bishop : Clerical Culture And Episcopal Formation In The Archdiocese Of Reims Around 1100 -- 3. Restless Flocks : The Challenges To Episcopal Authority -- 4. Band Of Brothers : Episcopal Networks In The Archdiocese Of Reims -- 5. Personal Histories : The Revival Of Archiepiscopal Historiography At Reims In The Eleventh Century -- 6. Sanctity And History In A Border Diocese : The Vita Of Lietbert Of Cambrai (1051-76) -- 7. Urban Space, Memory, And Episcopal Authority : The Bishops Of Amiens In Peace And Conflict, 1073-1164 -- 8. Bishops And The Word -- 9. Toil And Togetherness In The Vineyards Of The Lord -- 10. Conclusion John S. Ott, Portland State University. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. List of illustrations and tables page vi Acknowledgements vii List of abbreviations x 1. THE BISHOP AND HIS AUTHORITY 1 2. BECOMING BISHOP: CLERICAL CULTURE AND EPISCOPAL FORMATION IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF REIMS AROUND 1100 27 3. RESTLESS FLOCKS: CHALLENGES TO EPISCOPAL AUTHORITY 68 4. BAND OF BROTHERS: EPISCOPAL NETWORKS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF REIMS 111 5. PERSONAL HISTORIES: THE REVIVAL OF ARCHIEPISCOPAL HISTORIOGRAPHY AT REIMS IN THE ELEVENTH CENTURY 154 6. SANCTITY AND HISTORY IN A BORDER DIOCESE: THE VITA OF LIETBERT OF CAMBRAI (1051–76) 197 7. URBAN SPACE, MEMORY, AND EPISCOPAL AUTHORITY: THE BISHOPS OF AMIENS IN PEACE AND CONFLICT, 1073–1164 222 8. BISHOPS AND THE WORD 257 9. TOIL AND TOGETHERNESS IN THE VINEYARDS OF THE LORD 283 10. CONCLUSION 309 Appendix 318 Bibliography 327 Index 367 An important study of episcopal office and clerical identity in a socially and culturally dynamic region of medieval Europe. Focusing on the archdiocese of Reims during the sometimes turbulent century from 1050 to 1150, John S. Ott sheds light on the construction and representation of episcopal power and authority. An important new study of episcopal office and clerical identity in a socially and culturally dynamic region of medieval Europe