The Social World of the Abbey of Cava, c. 1020-1300

The Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, has had a continuous existence since its foundation almost exactly a thousand years ago. From its modest beginnings, it developed during the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in southern Italy. This path-breaking study, based on many years research into the, largely unpublished, charters of Cava, begins by examining the growth of the abbey's congregation and property, and its struggle subsequently to defend its interests during the troubled thirteenth century. But, in addition, it uses the extensive evidence available to study its benefactors and dependents, administration and economy, and through this material to analyse the social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno. There is also a re-evaluation of the problem of forgery, practised on a large scale at Cava during the thirteenth century, a factor which has complicated and discouraged previous study of this important institution. A major advance both in the study of the south Italian Church and of the medieval Mezzogiorno during the central Middle Ages, the volume presents a vivid and detailed picture of local society and its workings, and of the families and individuals who had dealings with the abbey. **Table of Contents** List of maps and charts Acknowledgements Abbreviations A note on the organisation and publication of the Cava archive Dates Currency, weights and measures The Abbots of Cava, c. 1020-1300 Introduction **Part I: the Abbey of Cava** (1) The Origins of the Abbey of Cava: from hermitage to monastery (2) The Era of growth c. 1076-1190 (3) Defending monastic lordship, c. 1190-1300 (4) Forgery, its extent and purpose **Part II: Society and Economy**(5) Landscape and Environment (6) Patrons and Benefactors (7) Family Connections (8) Administration and Personnel (9) Lordship (10) Peasants, their obligations and the exploitation of Cava's lands (11) The monastery, the city and the regional economy Conclusion Appendix: Purchase and Expenditure by the Abbey of Cava, at Selected Periods between 1175-1230 Bibliography Index The Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, has had a continuous existence since its foundation almost exactly a thousand years ago. From its modest beginnings, it developed during the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in southern Italy. This path-breaking study, based on many years research into the, largely unpublished, charters of Cava, begins by examining the growth of the abbey's congregation and property, and its struggle subsequently to defend its interests during the troubled thirteenth century. But, in addition, it uses the extensive evidence available to study its benefactors and dependents, administration and economy, and through this material to analyse the social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno. There is also a re-evaluation of the problem of forgery, practised on a large scale at Cava during the thirteenth century, a factor which has complicated and discouraged previous study of this important institution. A major advance both in the study of the south Italian Church and of the medieval Mezzogiorno during the central Middle Ages, the volume presents a vivid and detailed picture of local society and its workings, and of the families and individuals who had dealings with the abbey. Table of Contents List of maps and charts Acknowledgements Abbreviations A note on the organisation and publication of the Cava archive Dates Currency, weights and measures The Abbots of Cava, c. 1020-1300 Introduction Part I: the Abbey of Cava (1) The Origins of the Abbey of Cava: from hermitage to monastery (2) The Era of growth c. 1076-1190 (3) Defending monastic lordship, c. 1190-1300 (4) Forgery, its extent and purpose Part II: Society and Economy (5) Landscape and Environment (6) Patrons and Benefactors (7) Family Connections (8) Administration and Personnel (9) Lordship (10) Peasants, their obligations and the exploitation of Cava's lands (11) The monastery, the city and the regional economy Conclusion Appendix: Purchase and Expenditure by the Abbey of Cava, at Selected Periods between 1175-1230 Bibliography Index A pioneering, comprehensive investigation into a major Italian monastery. The Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, has had a continuous existence since its foundation almost exactly a thousand years ago. From its modest beginnings, it developed during the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in southern Italy. This path-breaking study, based on many years research into the, largely unpublished, charters of Cava, begins by examining the growth of the abbey's congregation and property, and its struggle subsequently to defend its interests during the troubled thirteenth century. But, in addition, it uses the extensive evidence available to study its benefactors and dependents, administration and economy, and through this material to analyse the social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno. There is also a re-evaluation of the problem of forgery, practised on a large scale at Cava during the thirteenth century, a factor which has complicated and discouraged previous study of this important institution. A major advance both in the study of the south Italian Church and of the medieval Mezzogiorno during the central Middle Ages, the volume presents a vivid and detailed picture of local society and its workings, and of the families and individuals who had dealings with the abbey The Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, has had a continuous existence since its foundation almost exactly a thousand years ago. From its modest beginnings, it developed during the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in southern Italy.

This path-breaking study, based on many years research into the, largely unpublished, charters of Cava, begins by examining the growth of the abbey's congregation and property, and its struggle subsequently to defend its interests during the troubled thirteenth century. But, in addition, it uses the extensive evidence available to study its benefactors and dependents, administration and economy, and through this material to analyse the social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno. There is also a re-evaluation of the problem of forgery, practised on a large scale at Cava during the thirteenth century, a factor which has complicated and discouraged previous study of this important institution.

A major advance both in the study of the south Italian Church and of the medieval Mezzogiorno during the central Middle Ages, the volume presents a vivid and detailed picture of local society and its workings, and of the families and individuals who had dealings with the abbey. Front cover Contents Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations Note on the Organisation and Publication of the Cava Archive Dates Currency, Weights and Measures The Abbots of Cava, c. 1020-1300 Introduction Part I: The Abbey of Cava 1: The Origins of the Abbey of Cava: From Hermitage to Monastery 2: The Era of Growth, c. 1076-1190 3: Defending Monastic Lordship, c. 1190-1300 4: Forgery, its Extent and Purpose Part II: Society and Economy 5: Landscape and Environment 6: Patrons and Benefactors 7: Family Connections 8: Administration and Personnel 9: Lordship 10: Peasants, their Obligations and the Exploitation of Cava’s Lands 11: The Monastery, the City and the Regional Economy Conclusions Appendix: Purchase and Expenditure by the Abbey of Cava, at Selected Periods between 1175 and 1230 Bibliography Index Studies in the History of Medieval Religion