Inaugural Rituals and Liturgical Kingship in the Long Twelfth Century
Book Description
This scholarly exploration reveals how spiritual authority and earthly power intertwined during one of history's most transformative periods. Johanna Dale examines the sacred dimensions of medieval kingship, challenging long-held assumptions about how rulers understood their divine mandate.
During the long twelfth century, as monarchies became more bureaucratic and law-focused, many historians believed that the spiritual aspects of rulership faded into mere ceremony. Dale's research tells a different story. Through careful analysis of liturgical texts, historical accounts, and ceremonial artifacts, she demonstrates that the sacred remained central to how medieval rulers conceived their authority.
The book focuses particularly on inauguration rituals, those pivotal moments when earthly leaders claimed divine endorsement. These ceremonies weren't empty traditions but living expressions of how kings and queens understood themselves as reflections of biblical rulers and divine will. Dale examines both male and female rites, revealing how spiritual symbolism continued to shape political identity even as governmental structures modernized.
For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality and leadership, this work offers insights into how sacred traditions adapt and persist through periods of institutional change. Dale's comparative approach across three medieval realms illuminates universal questions about authority, divine calling, and the role of ritual in affirming spiritual purpose.
The study demonstrates that even in increasingly secular contexts, the resonance of sacred ceremony and biblical models continued to influence how leaders understood their calling and responsibility.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 312 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Middle ages
- ✓ Explore Divine right of kings
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Church and state, history
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Kings and rulers
- ✓ Explore Church and state
- ✓ Explore History
