The constitution of episcopal and monastic authorities in the 10th century through the works of Folcuin (930-990) and Rather (890-974)

• Grant number: 20/12398-2
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - Ancient and Medieval History
• Principal researcher: Neri de Barros Almeida
• Grantee: Vitor Boldrini
• Supervisor abroad: Steffen Patzold
• Home Institution: Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas (IFCH). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/21692-4 - The biographical itineraries and the works of Folcuin of Lobbes and rather of Verona: the rooting of ecclesiastical elites in 10th century society, BP.MS

Abstract

Medieval studies on the High Middle Ages, especially with regard to the 10th and 11th centuries, have sought, in recent years, to emphasize the active role played by ecclesiastical elites. If before the authorities of the members of the Church were interpreted only through the political action of the German Emperors or of the prominent lay aristocrats, the most current historiography indicates that abbots and bishops were individuals who developed their own strategies to position themselves before the social dynamics of the period. The cautious reading of each document plays a fundamental role in this reevaluation. Through the sources elaborated by those who made up the ecclesiastical institution, it is possible to approach each text as a valuable trace to understand the way in which its respective author placed himself before the political relations that surrounded him. Based on this methodological support, the present research aims to analyze all the works of the monk Folcuin (930-990) and the abbot and bishop Rather (890-974), considering them as records of their political performance. We maintain that each writing has a close relationship with the particular context in which it was developed. Through a broad analysis that covers all of their respective trajectories, we will investigate the different ways that these two men establish their authorities and give meaning to society over time in the context of post-Carolingian Lotharingia. The project envisages a six-month study period at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, under the guidance of Professor Doctor Steffen Patzold. The research internship should take place at the Medieval History Seminar (Seminar für mittelalterliche Geschichte), which offers access to selected sources, specialized bibliography and debates between researchers through a colloquium (Mittelalterkolloquium). (AU)