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4 - Conferring Kingship

from Part II - Creating Kingship

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2021

Björn Weiler
Affiliation:
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
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Summary

In order for kingship to be legitimate, it had to be recognised. Only tyrants and usurpers would claim a royal title. Righteous rulers had their dignity thrust upon them. Yet a process of recognition also carried risks: the ability to award or confirm a royal title carried with it a responsibility to ensure that only those suitable of so elevated a dignity received it. Confirming tyrants cast into doubt one’s own legitimacy. Failing to come to the defence of a ruler one had recognised signalled that one lacked judgment, power or authority. Building on biblical, classical and patristic models, awarding royal titles meant that one was responsible for the conduct of the king. Yet that created a tension, given that kings were supposed to be beholden to nobody but God – one could not be a king unless one held power greater than that of a mere prince, but if one allowed others to intervene in the affairs of one's own realm, that power was called into question. Chapter 4 explores how high medieval observers engaged with these issues. It does so in relation to recognition both external (from popes, emperors or neighbours) and internal (from subjects and erstwhile peers).

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Conferring Kingship
  • 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/10.1017/9781009008853.005
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  • Conferring Kingship
  • 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/10.1017/9781009008853.005
Available formats
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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.

  • Conferring Kingship
  • 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/10.1017/9781009008853.005
Available formats
×