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2 - Foundational Texts

from Part I - Foundations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2021

Björn Weiler
Affiliation:
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Summary

Chapter 2 turns its attention to the cultural foundations on which medieval ideas of kingship built. It falls into two parts. The first summarises key episodes from the Old Testament; outlines concepts of just and legitimate power as defined by Cicero in his De Officiis and in Seneca’s De Clementia, which were among the mostly widely read classical texts in the central Middle Ages; and draws attention to important patristic and early medieval writers like Gregory the Great, St Augustine and Pseudo-Cyprianus. A recurring theme in all these is the relationship between the divine and worldly power, in each case reimagined so as to fit the specific circumstances and traditions of an author’s community. Kingship meant something different to semi-nomadic desert tribes in Syria, educated Roman elites and theologians coming to terms with the collapse of the Roman Empire. The second part highlights key themes in the medieval reception of these foundational texts, and in a range of more abstract engagements with worldly power. Especially important prove to be questions of justice, humility, the role of virtue, the subservience of the ruler to the divine and the need for oversight and admonition. These themes were pervasive across Latin Europe.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Foundational Texts
  • Björn Weiler, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
  • Book: Paths to Kingship in Medieval Latin Europe, c. 950–1200
  • Online publication: 24 September 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009008853.003
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  • Foundational Texts
  • Björn Weiler, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
  • Book: Paths to Kingship in Medieval Latin Europe, c. 950–1200
  • Online publication: 24 September 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009008853.003
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Foundational Texts
  • Björn Weiler, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
  • Book: Paths to Kingship in Medieval Latin Europe, c. 950–1200
  • Online publication: 24 September 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009008853.003
Available formats
×