Treason : Medieval and Early Modern Adultery, Betrayal, and Shame

The willingness to betray one's country, one's people, one's family--to commit treason and foreswear loyalty to one entity by giving it to another--is a difficult concept for many people to comprehend. Yet, societies have grappled with treason for centuries; the motivations, implications, and consequences are rarely clear cut and are often subjective. Set against the framework of modern political concerns, Treason: Medieval and Early Modern Adultery, Betrayal, and Shame considers the various forms of treachery in a variety of sources, including literature, historical chronicles, and material culture creating a complex portrait of the development of this high crime. Larissa Tracy artfully brings together younger critics as well as seasoned scholars in a compelling and topical conversation on treason. Contributors are Frank Battaglia, Dianne Berg, Tina Marie Boyer, Albrecht Classen, Sam Claussen, Freddy C. Domínguez, Melissa Ridley Elmes, Ana Grinberg, Iain A. MacInnes, Inna Matyushina, Sally Shockro, Susan Small, Peter Sposato, Sarah J. Sprouse, Daniel Thomas, and Larissa Tracy. Contents Acknowledgments List of Illustrations Abbreviations Notes on Contributors Introduction The Shameful Business of Betrayal and Treason Larissa Tracy Part 1 The Politics of Treason Chapter 1 Wiglaf’s Sword: The Coming of the State Frank Battaglia Chapter 2 In Sickness and in Health: the Boethian Narrative of the Two Geralds of Brecon Sarah J. Sprouse Chapter 3 Treasonous and Dishonorable Conduct: the Private Dimension of Treason and Chivalric Reform in Late Medieval Florence Peter Sposato Chapter 4 Royal Punishment and Reconciliation in Trastámara Castile Samuel A. Claussen Chapter 5 “A somewhat too cruel vengeance was taken for the blood of the slain”: Royal Punishment of Rebels, Traitors, and Political Enemies in Medieval Scotland, c. 1100–c. 1250 Iain A. MacInnes Part 2 Religious Treason and Heresy Chapter 6 Revolt in Heaven: Lucifer’s Treason in Genesis B Daniel Thomas Chapter 7 Blessed Betrayal: The Opportunity of Treachery in Anglo-Latin Ecclesiastical Texts Sally Shockro Chapter 8 Legal Ramifications of Ordeals and Treason in Morant und Galie Tina Marie Boyer Chapter 9 Religious Identity, Loyalty, and Treason in the Cycle du roi Ana Grinberg Chapter 10 Traitors Respond: English Catholic Polemical Strategies against Accusations of Treason at the End of the Sixteenth Century Freddy C. Domínguez Part 3 Treasonous Love: Adultery and Shame Chapter 11 Treason and Deception in Late Medieval German Romances and Novels Königin Sibille, Melusine, and Malagis Albrecht Classen Chapter 12 Treacherous Women at King Arthur’s Court: Punishment and Shame Inna Matyushina Chapter 13 Treason and the Feast in Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte Darthur Melissa Ridley Elmes Chapter 14 ‘Tis Fearful Sleeping in a Serpent’s Bed’: Arden of Faversham and the Threat of the Petty Traitor Dianne Berg Chapter 15 The Spatial Configuration of Shame in La Princesse de Clèves Susan Small Conclusion The Shame Game, from Guinevere to Cersei: Adultery, Treason, and Betrayal Larissa Tracy Select Bibliography Index Introduction: The shameful business of betrayal and treason / Larissa Tracy -- Wiglaf's sword : the coming of the state / Frank Battaglia -- In sickness and in health : the Boethian narrative of the two Geralds of Brecon / Sarah J. Sprouse -- Treasonous and dishonorable conduct : the private dimension of treason and chivalric reform in late medieval Florence / Peter Sposato -- Royal punishment and reconciliation in Trastamara Castile / Samuel A. Claussen -- "A somewhat too cruel vengeance was taken for the blood of the slain" : royal punishment of rebels, traitors, and political enemies in medieval Scotland, c. 1100-c. 1250 / Iain A. MacInnes -- Revolt in heaven : Lucifer's treason in Genesis B / Daniel Thomas -- Blessed betrayal : the opportunity of treachery in Anglo-Latin ecclesiastical texts / Sally Shockro -- Legal ramifications of ordeals and treason in Morant und Galie / Tina Boyer -- Religious identity, loyalty, and treason in the Cycle du Roi / Ana Grinberg -- Traitors respond : English Catholic polemical strategies against accusations of treason at the end of the sixteenth century / Freddy C. Dominguez -- Treason and deception in late medieval German romances and novels Konigin Sibille, Melusine, and Malagis / Albrecht Classen -- Treacherous women at King Arthur's court : punishment and shame / Inna Matyushina -- Treason and the feast in Sir Thomas Malory's Morte d'Arthur / Melissa Ridley Elmes -- 'Tis fearful sleeping in a serpent's bed' : Arden of Faversham and the threat of the petty traitor / Dianne Berg -- The spatial configuration of shame in La Princesse de Cleves / Susan Small -- Conclusion: The shame game, from Guinevere to Cersei : adultery, treason, and betrayal / Larissa Tracy "The willingness to betray one's country, one's people, one's family--to commit treason and foreswear loyalty to one entity by giving it to another--is a difficult concept for many people to comprehend. Yet, societies have grappled with treason for centuries; the motivations, implications, and consequences are rarely clear cut and are often subjective. Set against the framework of modern political concerns, Treason: Medieval and Early Modern Adultery, Betrayal, and Shame considers the various forms of treachery in a variety of sources, including literature, historical chronicles, and material culture creating a complex portrait of the development of this high crime. Larissa Tracy artfully brings together younger critics as well as seasoned scholars in a compelling and topical conversation on treason"-- Provided by publisher