Medieval History

This article analyses the debates about mixed marriages held within the Roman Curia (and especially the Roman Inquisition) between the sixteenth and the eighteenth centuries, integrating these debates with the normative and prescriptive literature. These authorities generally considered mixed marriages between Protestants and Catholics valid and even sacramental in virtue of the shared sacrament of the baptism, but at the same time constructed such unions as ‘carnal crimes’ to ‘abhor’. They believed that the most harmful effect of these polluting unions was that the Catholic partner might become tolerant of Protestantism, rendering the ‘heretic’ dangerously, contagiously familiar and abandoning future generations to heresy. Women were a particular concern for these authorities. Drawing upon traditional and somewhat contradictory ideas about women, they saw the wives in these marriages on one hand as particularly likely to be seduced by the ‘false faith’ because of their presumed weakness, but on the other hand they recognised women as a group with a special talent for beguiling men and so entrusted them with a missionary function towards their ‘heretical’ husbands. The role women could assume in mixed marriages therefore dynamised gender relations, but also caused social tension because of the challenge to patriarchal society, especially if they continued to practice their own faith and were entrusted with the religious education of the children.

When Simon de Montfort took control of the government of England in 1264, he replaced the sheriffs appointed by Henry III. The new sheriffs were relatively obscure, and have been little studied. The baronial reform movement raised expectations that sheriffs should be honest, and natives of the counties they governed. De Montfort’s sheriffs largely met these requirements, as their backgrounds and careers demonstrate. Unpublished Exchequer records show that they were surprisingly successful in holding courts and collecting revenues in a time of disorder. They were men of the knightly class, serving their counties, rather than being ideologically attached to the reform movement.
Also available online: http://rdcu.be/EzyG

The idea of the Knights Templar looked good on paper. Have knights from across Europe join a monastic order that would defend the Holy Land from non-Christians. They would be devout warriors fighting on behalf of God, an example for all of Christendom. What could go wrong?

This paper examines the evidence for ironworking in the town of Kilkenny during the late medieval period. It takes into account both the written and archaeological sources for ironworking and is based on recently completed doctoral research into iron production in Ireland in the period from c. AD 1200 to 1600 (Rondelez 2014a). Other aspects, such as the ethnicity of the smiths, the fuel used for ironworking and the iron trade, are also discussed. inTRODucTiOn From steel blades for cutting timber, stone, textile and food to weapons for waging warfare, from humble nails to horseshoes, anchors and chains, iron played a vital part in late medieval life. As such, the blacksmith's forge, where the manufacturing and repair of these objects took place, played a central role in the medieval economy. Kilkenny is exceptional because its main forge, which for at least a century, and possibly more, had a monopoly on ironworking inside the town, is well documented, both through archival sources and excavations. The same sources suggest the introduction of coal in Kilkenny around 1400 and give insights into the connections between smithing technology and ethnicity.

The article presents two stages of secularization of the Teutonic order’s holdings in the Baltic
States. The first stage was carried out in 1525 by the Grand Master of Prussia, Albrecht of Brandenburg-
Ansbach, and the second — in 1561 in Livonia by landmaster Gotthard Kettler. The disappearance of
Ordensstaat was the result of these processes. They also changed the political landscape of this region. As a
result, the Duchies were established in the ex-order’s lands. The heads of spiritual order of knightly corporation
became secular leaders of these territorial units which practiced Lutheranism on the daily basis. This article
discusses the domestic political position of Grand Master and landmaster. It also deals with a matter of personal
attitude of Albreht Brandenburg-Ansbach and Gotthard Kettler to the evangelical faith. In the first case the
attention is paid to the existence of private correspondence with Martin Luther, who sent his messages to
Prussia and Livonia. Apparently Livonian landmaster was in close contacts with the Protestant preachers. This is
confirmed by the fact of his visits to Melanchthon’s lectures, as well as support for the opening of Protestant
schools in Livonia. Author studies the assembly of order‘s gebitigers of April 5, 1560 that reflected the mood
inside the military order before the secularization (associated with both the military and political situation caused
by the Livonian War, and with the religious issue). Article presents the factors that contributed the later secularization of the Order of Livonia in comparison with the Prussian lands. These examples indicate the
beginning of the time of konfessionalisation since the middle 1520s and assume the existence of a special
variant of the «order’s» Reformation in the Baltic lands. Faith-based processes started on this site a little earlier
than in the rest of the Holy Roman Empire. The spreading of Lutheranism in the order’s territories of the Baltic
lands is included in general picture of confessionalisation of the XVIth century.

La “domus episcopi” o “episcopium” es el espacio residencial específico para el obispo surgido junto con otras dependencias en torno a la catedral, centro del poder episcopal. Con la recuperación de Calahorra para el orbe cristiano en 1045, comenzó el desarrollo de la sede y de las infraestructuras catedralicias, entre las que se encuentra un “palacio episcopi” en el siglo XII. Sin embargo, factores como la tolerada movilidad de los obispos o la situación periférica de la sede calagurritana, entre otras circunstancias de la propia diócesis, implicaron que la ciudad no contara con un auténtico episcopio hasta varios siglos después. Así el impulso de varios prelados llevó a planificar y consumar una residencia episcopal definitiva en la primera mitad del siglo XVII. Un siglo después, su reforma y ampliación le confirieron la complejidad y el aspecto de gran edificio palaciego que actualmente conserva. Tras años de abandono gradual, con la primera mitad del siglo XX la residencia episcopal calagurritana volvió a renovarse y alumbrar de nuevo, para finalmente ir perdiendo uso y quedar hoy en día infrautilizada pese a su enorme atractivo y dignidad.

Deruta, castello del contado perugino, riveste un grande rilievo in epoca comunale per le fiorenti attività economiche, incentrate prevalentemente sulla produzione di ceramiche, e l’importanza strategica sul piano militare. Il volume ripercorre la storia politico-istituzionale ed economica del castello dalle origini alla prima età moderna.

Сборник статей по актуальным проблемам историографии и источниковедения средневекового Востока посвящен памяти выдающегося историка-востоковеда, Героя Советского Союза, академика
З.М. Буниятова (1923-1997), который внес весомый вклад в развитие советской и азербайджанской медиевистики. В сборнике принимают участие ученые из Азербайджана, России (Москвы, Дагестана), Грузии, Таджикистана, а также Канады и США.

Aquest article pretén realitzar una primera aproximació al coneixement del paisatge històric del Segrià meridional, una regió que comprèn grosso modo els termes municipals d'Almatret, Llardecans, Maials i la meitat meridional del de Seròs. L'estudi agafa com a marc cronològic la longue durée, de manera que se centra en els principals processos que s'han anat produint al llarg de les diverses èpoques històriques i que han dut a la conformació del paisatge actual. D'aquests, pren una rellevant importància dins l'article l'anàlisi de les restes de centuriacions romanes, que sens dubte suposaren un abans i un després en el territori i marcaren fortament la seva evolució posterior. Entre d'altres aspectes, se centra també l'atenció en diverses partides creades en temps baixmedievals, que hom pot estudiar sobretot a partir de la documentació dels segles posteriors, així com en les transformacions d'època contemporània, principalment de l'any 1956 ençà.

[This paper aims to provide a first approach to knowledge on the historical landscape of southern Segrià, a region comprising roughly the municipalities of Almatret, Llardecans, Maials and the southern half of Seròs. The project establishes a long-term chronological framework focussing on main events from several historical periods that resulted in the current landscape arrangement. One of main events in the paper that set a milestone in the territory and played a key role in its evolution is the analysis of the remains of Roman centuriations. Other aspects touched upon are the 'partides' (Catalan land division) created in late medieval times, mainly studied through documents from later centuries, and contemporary transformations, particularly from 1956 onwards.]

Since 1982, Stephen J. Gould and Elisabeth Vrba’s concept of exaptation has been adopted, to varying degrees, by a number of biological and social science disciplines. However, it remains a missing term in the study of archaeologically recovered insect remains and entomologically-related artefacts. Exaptation refers to the process by which a characteristic acquires a function for which it was not originally adapted. The application of Gould and Vrba’s concept to the field of archaeoentomology could enhance our perception of past social, environmental, and climatic conditions as well as interactions. Herein, biological and technological examples of the enduring relationship between synanthropic insects and humans are explored using exaptation.

Although the sympathetic depiction of Otherness in The Travels of Sir John Mandeville is acknowledged to be indicative of the writer's celebrated tolerance, few critics have ventured to explore how Mandeville creates it. Yet his presentation of the Other is as much a product of his cultural openness as it is the result of a conscious process of careful psychological negotiation of difference in which the text engages with the reader via the medium of the Mandeville persona. The Other is imagined so convincingly by this fourteenth-century writer that he endows it with a complex existence of its own which transcends what Ian Macleod Higgins calls a 'self-critical mirror'. Foucault's notion of 'transgression' proves instrumental in elucidating the way in which Mandeville erects his image of the Other and then, by employing a number of examples, how the text and the language of The Travels convey this 'transgression'. The second aprt of the article evaluates Mandeville's categories of perception by comparing them with the cognitive paradigms expressed by his sources and some of his contemporaries.

Edizione critica, traduzione e commento a cura di Giovanni Paolo Maggioni.
Nel contesto della turbolenta storia d’Irlanda dei primi decenni del XIV secolo, l’arcivescovo di Cork, il domenicano Philip de Slane, viene inviato ad Avignone come legato del re d’Inghilterra Edoardo II, per discutere con papa Giovanni XXII della complessa condizione dell’isola: in seguito al fallimento dello sbarco di Edward Bruce, fratello del re di Scozia, gli Anglonormanni continuavano a spadroneggi re e ad opprimere gli Irlandesi. Philip, membro di una famiglia anglonormanna, reca in dono al pontefice un libro, la «Piccola descrizione dell’Irlanda», una rilettura aggiornata della «Topographia Hibernica» di Giraldo Cambrense. Sorprendentemente, nel testo che ci è pervenuto, il diritto della corona inglese a dominare l’Irlanda viene fortemente messo in discussione: questo diritto spetta al papa e solo lui può concederlo ad altri, a certe condizioni. E queste condizioni sono state disattese dai re d’Inghilterra… Non sono esattamente le parole che ci si attenderebbe dal legato di Edoardo II. Un mistero letterario medievale, qui per la prima volta pubblicato in edizione critica.

Los yacimientos olvidados: registro y musealización de campos de batalla is a project that aims to encompass all aspects of battlefield archaeology, in order to be a reference work in this study area. Therefore, a detailed historiographical study about this branch of archaeology has been made, from early origins until the present day, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the evolution of battlefield archaeology. Two methodologies, archaeological and museographical, are proposed for the treatment of this particular type of archaeological site. In order to prove the viability of both methodologies, a theoretical application has been carried out in two research examples from different periods, demonstrating both the project’s methodological validity and reinforcing our theories.

Two registers were made regarding battlefields ¬- one historical and another archaeological. The purpose of this was to catalogue all possible existing sites in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula from Roman times through to the Spanish Civil War, which will hopefully serve as a point of reference for future researchers. Through this book, people will be able to understand the great potential of Spanish battlefields and their heritage. Furthermore, Spain could be regarded as a very important country regarding battlefield archaeology.

Two historical landscape analysis, based on written documents and land survey maps from the 18th and the first half of the 19th century, have been carried out as part of the project running the archaeological investigations for the development of the highway E22 past the community Linderöd on the ridge Linderödsåsen. The mostly wooded landscape on the ridge is a sharp contrast to the fertile plains of Scania. The first study covers the entire parish of Linderöd, with special regards to the villages Knopparp and Spångarp. The second is a detailed study of settlement, cooperation and land use in Knopparp. The studied period extends from the medieval colonisation in the 12th and 13th century until the enclosure reform (Sw. laga skifte) in the mid-19th century. However, the medieval settlers were not the first to practice agriculture in the neighbourhood as they could benefit from stone clearings made already during the first four centuries AD. During the Late Iron Age and the Viking period settlement was rather sparse on the ridge, which was dominated by large uninhabited areas used as commons (Sw. allmänning). With support of some evidence it is suggested that the medieval colonisation was managed by stewards (Sw. brytar). The landscape analysis are published as appendices in separate reports from the Archaeologists at the National Historical Museums (2015:98 and 2018:105).

... Bibliographic record number: 472685. Chapter/Paper in a book. Authors: Bali, Tomislav. Title: Sabori u srednjem vijeku ( Croatian Sabor in Middle Ages ). Book: Hrvatski sabor. Editor/s: Budak, Neven. Publisher: Leykam international. City: Zagreb. Year: 2010. Page range:: 7-22. ...

This essay maps recent scholarly trends in the study of early modern women as healthcare practitioners and provides a general introduction to the special issue of Renaissance Studies titled "Women and Healthcare in Early Modern Europe" (Vol. 28, no. 4, Sept. 2014).

La Peste Negra redefinió una realidad para todas las esferas de la sociedad medieval. Este violento encuentro con la muerte, presupone un cambio de visión absoluta sobre el mundo conocido. La Inglaterra de 1348, es un mundo visto desde realidades muy diversas y a menudo opuestas, esto lleva a formular diversas hipótesis sobre el protagonismo del género femenino. Las fuentes medievales nos describen cómo es necesario adaptarse a una realidad incierta y los dilemas que surgen a raíz de estos cambios. La mujer es una protagonista clave del escenario fluctuante del siglo XIV. Varias historias que a primera vista se encuentran contrastadas, eventualmente se mezclan y entrelazan. Así, se unen para darnos un panorama nuevo, con otro significado sobre la participación femenina, sin extremos. Independiente de su rango social o religión. Podremos apreciar y explorar las transformaciones que estas mujeres viven, al asumir este profundo cambio en la historia y lo que se lucha por conservar.

Palabras claves: Peste Negra – Mujeres – Inglaterra – Medieval – Género
Keywords: Black Death – Women – England – Medieval – Gender

"Knjiga koja je pred nama, pod naslovom In nomine Dei: Kratka istorija krstaških ratova, zajedničko je delo nekoliko autora. Oni su svoj zadatak shvatili veoma široko, pa su dužnu pažnju posvetili i predistoriji krstaških pokreta tako što su dali kratak pregled stanja i događaja u istoriji Vizantije, latinskih država zapadne Evrope i muslimanskog sveta. Sve je to učinjeno u nastojanju da se budući čitaoci na pravi način uključe u epohu krstaških ratova i da bolje razumeju njihove tokove. Pisci knjige su pri tom izbegli opasnost da budu preširoki i da tako naruše unutrašnju strukturu i kompoziciju celine. Posebnu dragocenost ove knjige čine izvanredne ilustracije za koje njeni autori zaslužuju sve pohvale.

Ova knjiga, između ostalog, trebalo bi i da razbije uobičajene predrasude da su krstaški ratovi bili jedino motivisani koristoljubivim razlozima, a njihovi učesnici isključivo avanturisti i bezemljaši željni pljačkanja. Naime, još su žive snažne predrasude čiji tvorci u krstaškim ratovima vide samo pljačkaške poduhvate i versku zatucanost. Pri tome se zaboravlja na jednu od elementarnih naučnih istina o tome da je Srednji vek zaista bio epoha vere, ali "doba vere" i u najplemenitijem značenju tog izraza.

Prof. dr Radivoj RADIĆ
Filozofski fakultet Beograd

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Krstaški ratovi su jedan od najzanimljivijih fenomena, ne samo u istoriji srednjeg veka, već u celokupnoj istoriji čovečanstva. Ova tema ne prestaje da pobuđuje zanimanje kako stručnjaka tako i šire čitalačke publike. Knjiga obuhvata period od 1095. godine i sabora u Klermonu, do tragičnog kraja Luja IX Svetog avgusta 1270. Osnovnu nit knjige dopunjuju i kratki pregledi istorija Vizantije, zapadne Evrope i muslimanskog sveta.

Autori su uspeli da svojim zanimljivim opisima najvažnijih bitaka i pojava oblikuju knjigu koja čitaoce neće ostaviti ravnodušnim. Pored ratova, naročito je istaknut dvosmerni uticaj koje će dve sukobljene kulture ostvariti jedna na drugu. Susret istoka i zapada nije se ograničio i završio ratovima, nastavio je da traje i da se prožima. Pored brojnih ilustracija tekst je obogaćen i istorijskim kartama koje bliže određuju geografski prostor krstaških ratova."

The pontificate of Innocent III has often been presented as a turning point in the history of the rise of medieval anti-Judaism: through his virulent anti-Jewish rhetoric and his attempts to restrict Christian-Jewish contact, the pope ushered in an age of growing interreligious tension.  This paper reexamines the anti-Jewish policies and rhetoric of Innocent III through a close analysis of three bulls sent to France between 1205 and 1208.  Through these missives, the pope seeks to enforce the proper hierarchy of Christian superiority over Jews and limit what he sees as the results of Jewish “insolence”: the widespread practice of usury, the employ of Christian servants in Jewish homes, the selling to Christians of products (in particular meat, milk and wine) which Jews deem of insufficient quality for their own use.  Through these three bulls we perceive the first expressions of a fear which will become widespread in the later Middle Ages: contact with Jews (their food, their wine, their milk) represents a danger of pollution or impurity.

In a period marred by strong political convulsions in Western Medieval Europe, and in England in particular, it makes sense to examine the writings of one of the most relevant theologians and political philosophers of the 14th century, as he scrutinizes the notions of rulership. Indeed, mirroring other philosophers of his time, John Wyclif (c.1328-1384), would, in the last quarter of the 14th century, write two political treatises, the De Civili Dominio and the De Officio Regis. These works verse precisely on the notions of dominion and duties of the English governing institutions, addressing the concepts of king and regal power, of justice and society, and their consequences in rulership itself.
Through a comparative study of partial translations of Wyclif’s works, who, under the protection of the regent John of Gaunt exercised a great influence at the English court – and by emphasizing his ideal model on the aforementioned notions – we gather important elements of the political debate occurring at the end of the Middle Ages in Western Christianity. Thus, we propose to analyze Wyclif’s concepts of authority and the organization of a tripartite society under the king, the placement of war in that same society, the relations between temporal and spiritual power, his take on the concept of justice and legitimacy, focusing on its definition as an extension of God’s own power and authority, versing on his distinction of the king as both institution and individual, and how Wyclif’s doctrines should be regarded in light of the 1381 Peasant’s Revolution.