Hagiographie, idéologie et politique au Moyen Âge en Occident

By Edina Bozóky

Book Description

This scholarly exploration delves into the intricate relationship between sanctity and power during medieval times in Western Europe. Drawing from research presented at an international conference in Poitiers, this comprehensive study examines how the recognition and promotion of sainthood through written texts and visual imagery were deeply intertwined with the social and political circumstances of their era.

The work reveals a fundamental truth about spiritual authority: saints possess power, and those in power cultivate their own saints. Through careful analysis spanning the seventh to fifteenth centuries, contributors investigate how the veneration of holy figures served the strategic interests of both ecclesiastical and secular authorities. The book illuminates three key dimensions of this dynamic relationship.

First, it explores how rulers and institutions drew legitimacy from the prestige of revered saints from earlier periods. Second, it examines how hagiographical writings became tools in ideological and political conflicts of the time. Finally, it investigates the connections between religious iconography, the promotion of sacred relics, and their historical contexts.

This research synthesis offers fresh insights into a central question of medieval life: the complex interweaving of religious devotion and political ambition. For readers interested in understanding how spiritual narratives have historically served worldly purposes, this work provides valuable perspective on the enduring relationship between sacred authority and temporal power.