Santo Agostinho, Pedro de Barcelos, e a unidade dos fidalgos. Algumas hipóteses em torno do prólogo do Livro de Linhagens do Conde D. Pedro

Abstract

is article proposes some interpretative hypothesis regarding the prologue of the Livro de Linhagens do conde D. Pedro. A specific focus is granted to the comparison of some ideas contained in the prologue with patristic writings, especially a fundamentaltext (De Civitate Dei)of an author as important as Saint Augustine in shaping medieval conceptions and representations. Firstly, a proposal on how reading and interpreting the importance of patristic texts is established; to that purpose, considering thegeneral value of a concept such as ecclesia is of paramount importance. Grounded in these perspectives, some general ideas of Saint Augustine are highlighted, along with their importance in Pedro de Barcelos discourse. After that, a comparison is made between the main ideas underlined by Pedro de Barcelos, and other social practices essential to aristocracy cohesion and social reproduction. Overall, this article tries to emphasize the necessity of considering the Christian framework of medieval society to a precise comprehension of its traces, along with an indispensable dialectic between discourses and social practices to the analysis of historical reality.