Episcopal Power and Local Society in Medieval Europe, 1000-1400

Episcopal power permeated European society between 1000 and 1400 through the participation of bishops in a range of ecclesiastical and secular affairs. Indeed, the centrality of the episcopal office in medieval society has piqued the interest of many scholars in the activities of bishops during this [...]
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Episcopal power permeated European society between 1000 and 1400 through the participation of bishops in a range of ecclesiastical and secular affairs. Indeed, the centrality of the episcopal office in medieval society has piqued the interest of many scholars in the activities of bishops during this period. However, their attention has often been drawn towards extraordinary episcopal personalities whose power dominated their respective political or cultural milieu. The purpose of this volume is to consider the foundation of episcopal power in medieval Europe by examining its functioning and development at the level of local society. Its essays are divided into three sections which examine (i) the construction of episcopal power in local society, (ii) its augmentation, and (iii) some of the ways it was expressed. The essays have a broad geographical scope and include studies focused on English, French, Italian and Icelandic dioceses.