Rediscovering Sainthood in Italy: Hagiography and the Late Antique Past in Medieval Ravenna: 2016 (The New Middle Ages)

Beginning with Saint Barbatianus, a fifth-century wonderworking monk and confessor to the Empress Galla Placidia, this book focuses on the changes in the religious landscape of Ravenna, a former capital of the Late Roman Empire, through the Middle Ages. During this period, written stories about saints and their relics not only offered guidance and solace but were also used by those living among the ruins of a once great city—particularly its archbishops, monks, and the urban aristocracy—to reflect on its past glory. This practice remained important to the citizens of Ravenna as they came to terms with the city’s revival and renewed relevance in the tenth century under Ottonian rule. In using the __vita__ of Barbatianus as a central text, Edward M. Schoolman explores how saints and sanctity were created and ultimately came to influence complex political and social networks, from the Late Roman Empire to the High Middle Ages. Acknowledgments 6 Contents 8 List of Abbreviations 10 List of Figures 12 List of Tables 14 Introduction 16 Chapter 1: Barbatianus in Late Antiquity 28 1.1 Locating Barbatianus in the Fifth Century 28 1.2 “Foreign” Saints in the Late Roman Capital 31 1.3 Saints in the Sphere of Galla Placidia 32 1.4 The Other Barbatiani in Late Antiquity 40 Notes 41 Chapter 2: The Contexts of Medieval Ravenna 47 2.1 The Legend of Barbatianus from the Sixth to the Ninth Century 47 2.2 Politics of Tenth-Century Ravenna: Archbishops 50 2.3 Politics of Tenth-Century Ravenna: Emperors 56 2.4 Politics of Tenth-Century Ravenna: Nobles 58 2.5 The Monastic Communities and Monastic Reform in Tenth-Century Ravenna 59 2.6 The Monasterium of Barbatianus 63 Notes 67 Chapter 3: The Hagiographic Landscape of Medieval Ravenna 75 3.1 Approaching Ravenna’s Hagiographic Landscape 75 3.2 Apollinaris and the Ravennate Saints before the Tenth Century 77 3.3 Hagiographic Production of the Tenth Century 82 3.4 The Long Perspective of the Vita et Inventio Sancti Probi 86 3.5 New Monastic Hagiography in Eleventh-­Century Ravenna 92 Notes 94 Chapter 4: The History of the Vita Barbatiani 103 4.1 History of the Vita Barbatiani 103 4.2 Dating the Vita Barbatiani 106 Notes 112 Chapter 5: Content and Composition of the Vita Barbatiani 117 5.1 Content of the Vita Barbatiani 117 5.2 The Composition of the Vita Barbatiani 123 5.3 The Miracles of Barbatianus 131 Notes 143 Chapter 6: Barbatianus in the Later Middle Ages 151 6.1 Barbatianus in the Eleventh Century and the Sermon of Peter Damian 152 6.2 The Legend of Barbatianus in the Twelfth Century and Beyond 155 6.3 Noble and Monastic Diffusion of the Vita Barbatiani 158 Notes 161 Chapter 7: Conclusions 165 7.1 Creating Local Saints 170 7.2 Barbatianus as Survivor 173 Notes 176 Appendix 1: Translation of the Vita Barbatiani 180 Appendix 2: Translation of Peter Damian’s On the Feast of St. Barbatianus 191 Appendix 3: Manuscripts of the Vita sancti Barbatiani 200 Compilations for Liturgical Use 200 Hagiographical and Non-Liturgical compilations 201 Vernacular Translations 202 Notes 202 Bibliography 206 Primary Sources 206 Secondary Sources 208 Index 222 "Acknowledgments"--"Contents"--"List of Abbreviations" -- "List of Figures" -- "List of Tables" -- "Introduction" -- "Chapter 1: Barbatianus in Late Antiquity" -- "1.1 Locating Barbatianus in the Fifth Century" -- "1.2 â#x80;#x9C;Foreignâ#x80;#x9D; Saints in the Late Roman Capital" -- "1.3 Saints in the Sphere of Galla Placidia" -- "1.4 The Other Barbatiani in Late Antiquity" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 2: The Contexts of Medieval Ravenna" -- "2.1 The Legend of Barbatianus from the Sixth to the Ninth Century" -- "2.2 Politics of Tenth-Century Ravenna: Archbishops" -- "2.3 Politics of Tenth-Century Ravenna: Emperors" -- "2.4 Politics of Tenth-Century Ravenna: Nobles" -- "2.5 The Monastic Communities and Monastic Reform in Tenth-Century Ravenna" -- "2.6 The Monasterium of Barbatianus" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 3: The Hagiographic Landscape of Medieval Ravenna" -- "3.1 Approaching Ravennaâ#x80;#x99;s Hagiographic Landscape" -- "3.2 Apollinaris and the Ravennate Saints before the Tenth Century" -- "3.3 Hagiographic Production of the Tenth Century" -- "3.4 The Long Perspective of the Vita et Inventio Sancti Probi" -- "3.5 New Monastic Hagiography in Eleventh-ÂƯCentury Ravenna" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 4: The History of the Vita Barbatiani" -- "4.1 History of the Vita Barbatiani" -- "4.2 Dating the Vita Barbatiani" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 5: Content and Composition of the Vita Barbatiani" -- "5.1 Content of the Vita Barbatiani" -- "5.2 The Composition of the Vita Barbatiani" -- "5.3 The Miracles of Barbatianus" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 6: Barbatianus in the Later Middle Ages" -- "6.1 Barbatianus in the Eleventh Century and the Sermon of Peter Damian" -- "6.2 The Legend of Barbatianus in the Twelfth Century and Beyond" -- "6.3 Noble and Monastic Diffusion of the Vita Barbatiani" -- "Notes" -- "Chapter 7: Conclusions." Beginning With Saint Barbatianus, A Fifth-century Wonderworking Monk And Confessor To The Empress Galla Placidia, This Book Focuses On The Changes In The Religious Landscape Of Ravenna, A Former Capital Of The Late Roman Empire, Through The Middle Ages. During This Period, Written Stories About Saints And Their Relics Not Only Offered Guidance And Solace But Were Also Used By Those Living Among The Ruins Of A Once Great City-particularly Its Archbishops, Monks, And The Urban Aristocracy-to Reflect On Its Past Glory. This Practice Remained Important To The Citizens Of Ravenna As They Came To Terms With The City's Revival And Renewed Relevance In The Tenth Century Under Ottonian Rule. In Using The 'vita' Of Barbatianus As A Central Text, Edward M. Schoolman Explores How Saints And Sanctity Were Created And Ultimately Came To Influence Complex Political And Social Networks, From The Late Roman Empire To The High Middle Ages. Barbatianus In Late Antiquity -- The Contexts Of Medieval Ravenna -- The Hagiographic Landscape Of Medieval Ravenna -- The History Of The Vita Barbatiani -- Content And Composition Of The Vita Barbatiani -- Barbatianus In The Later Middle Ages -- Conclusions. Edward M. Schoolman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 183-198) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi Barbatianus in Late Antiquity....Pages 1-19 The Contexts of Medieval Ravenna....Pages 21-48 The Hagiographic Landscape of Medieval Ravenna....Pages 49-76 The History of the Vita Barbatiani ....Pages 77-90 Content and Composition of the Vita Barbatiani ....Pages 91-124 Barbatianus in the Later Middle Ages....Pages 125-138 Conclusions....Pages 139-153 Back Matter....Pages 155-202