Episcopal Elections Research Articles

Sacred Memory and Monastic Friendship in Eadmer of Canterbury’sVita S. Oswaldi

Between the years of 1113-1116, Prior Nicholas and the monks of St. Mary’s, Worcester, petitioned Eadmer of Canterbury to re-write the vita of their monastic founder St. Oswald. The years preceding this request were a period of hardship for the community of St. Mary’s, as the brethren coped with the burning of their church, the death of monastic elders, and the installation of a royal clerk as bishop of Worcester. In the face of such trials, the monks of Worcester turned to St. Oswald to justify their continued existence and consolidate their corporate identity. Yet, their decision to solicit Eadmer raises questions about the devotional function of the new Vita S. Oswaldi for the brethren of Worcester. While Eadmer modelled his text on Byrhtferth of Ramsey’s eleventh-century biography, he altered the nature of St. Oswald’s sanctity by subordinating the saint’s virtuous development to the leadership of the archbishops Oda and Dunstan of Canterbury. Eadmer incorporated St. Oswald into a new sacred hierarchy, whereby the saint’s virtuous life served to support Canterbury’s contemporary claims to English episcopal primacy. The monks of Worcester had maintained an amiable relationship with Canterbury since the Norman conquest, and Nicholas’s decision to commission Eadmer likewise reflects how the chapter of St. Mary’s perceived itself in relation to Canterbury. Nicholas and the monks of Worcester hoped to benefit from Canterbury’s predominance in the English Church, especially regarding the preservation of their corporate rights and influence in future episcopal elections. This article explores the reception of sacred history in the community of St. Mary’s, Worcester, and the manner in which the brethren used the memory of their corporate past to reaffirm their place, identity, and continuity as a monastic body. It further argues that the episcopal priories of Worcester and Canterbury maintained a historical support network, in which members of each community recast information about St. Oswald and England’s ecclesiastical past to reaffirm bonds of monastic friendship and share in sacred prestige.

Nullus alicui clerico episcopatum conferre debeat nisi rex. Royal Authority and Disputed Episcopal Elections during the late Carolingian Period

This article examines the language surrounding disputed episcopal elections in the late Carolingian period, focussing in particular on the disputed election to the bishopric of Liege in 921. It places the language used by participants in the Liege dispute, which is strikingly in favour of the legitimacy of royal participation in episcopal elections, in the context of other such disputes from the mid-ninth to early tenth centuries. By doing so, the discourse of royal authority surrounding the Liege dispute, whilst still remarkably explicit in justifying royal participation, is argued to be a natural continuation of prior trends, fitting neatly into a late Carolingian intensification of royal authority. This intensification was a change not so much in kind as in emphasis, as although conceptions of the right of kings to participate in elections per se remained roughly similar over these decades, ideas about opposition to such participation can be seen to shift, allowing kings more of an active role and increasingly denying legitimacy to opponents of kings.

The Golden Age of Episcopal Elections 1100-1300

The Golden Age of Episcopal Elections 1100-1300

Damasus of Rome, The Epigraphic Poetry: Introduction, Texts, Translations, and Commentary by Dennis Trout

Reviewed by: Damasus of Rome, The Epigraphic Poetry: Introduction, Texts, Translations, and Commentary by Dennis Trout Kristina Sessa Dennis Trout Damasus of Rome, The Epigraphic Poetry: Introduction, Texts, Translations, and Commentary Oxford Early Christian Texts Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015 Pp. 229. $155.00. The popes of late antique Rome are known for many things. They delivered stentorian proclamations of episcopal authority; they built and beautified many of the city’s churches; they fought in disputed episcopal elections and hounded heretics; they even (allegedly) confronted Attila the Hun. Poetry writing, alas, does not typically make the list. Dennis Trout’s welcomed new volume, Damasus of Rome, The Epigraphic Poetry, will help correct these assumptions. As Trout shows, at least one Roman bishop, Damasus (366–384 c.e.), dedicated substantial resources and personal time to the art of poetic composition. Among other contributions, the book presents the first complete set of English translations of all sixty-seven extant Latin poems, which the bishop composed during his tenure and in most cases commissioned the renowned calligrapher Philocalus to inscribe with his unique lettering on marble slabs. The majority of Damasus’s verse inscriptions commemorate the city’s martyrs, whose cult spaces outside Rome’s walls were also a subject of interest for the bishop. Damasus is attributed with extensive renovations of these martyr shrines, and we know that he ordered his own inscribed poems—a number of which feature the bishop’s signature—to adorn the walls. The volume also spotlights Damasus’s work as a poet, underlining his innovations on forms and techniques that were popular in the fourth century, such as the heavy use of Virgilian allusion. Indeed, what distinguishes Damasus of Rome from other studies on his poetic corpus is the fact that Trout carefully situates the poetry within multiple contexts: the literary, the archaeo-logical, and the historical. In addition to bringing Damasus’s full poetic corpus to English-speaking audiences for the first time, Trout offers readers a highly readable synthesis of recent scholarship on the bishop, his literary endeavors, and the broader ecclesiastical milieu. [End Page 165] The volume opens with a detailed introduction to Damasus and the poems (discussed further below). This is followed by a “reader’s guide” to key late ancient and medieval primary sources that Trout and others use to supplement the study of the Damasan epigrams. The remainder of the volume is dedicated to the full Latin text and English translation of all Damasus’s extant poems, including several highly fragmentary verses and the few non-epigraphic. Each poem is accompanied by detailed commentary: first a line-by-line discussion of key phrases, intertextual allusions, and relevant text critical information; second, a more general discussion of the poem, its original material and historical contexts, and its afterlife as either an extant inscription (typically fragmentary and often moved elsewhere) or a textual transcription (in manuscripts known as syllogae). The Latin text largely follows the still standard edition produced by Antonio Ferrua in 1942, with emendations offered only on issues brought to light by new evidence. Trout’s new English translations are lively but adhere closely to Latin; they will undoubtedly make their way quickly into teaching syllabi. The volume concludes with several indices, including a linguistic index on important Latin expressions. The interdisciplinary nature of Damasus of Rome is arguably the book’s greatest strength. The lengthy introduction to the author and poems covers virtually every conceivable angle on the material with varying levels of detail. Trout gives due attention to Damasus’s larger martyr project and to the fractious ecclesiastical context in which he became bishop and composed the poems. He introduces readers to Philocalus and his elegant serif-accented script, and to the fascinating transmission history of the poems, many of which were copied into manuscripts by visiting pilgrims. And in a move that will please classicists, Trout addresses many technical features of Damasus’s poems, discussing at length matters such as metrical quantity (and the extent to which Damasus followed convention), Damasus’s use of caesuras and diaeresis, and his deliberate alteration between verbal repetition and innovation. Trout also enters the debate over Damasus’s alleged authorship of the...

Archiepiscopal and Papal Involvement in Episcopal Elections: The Origins and Reception of Lateran IV cc. 23–24 from the Third Lateran Council to the Liber Sextus

Abstract Constitutions 23 and 24 of the Fourth Lateran Council dealt with episcopal elections, providing the proper timeframe and three possible electoral procedures, respectively. Although the former stipulated that an electoral body’s proximate superior was to gain the potestas eligendi and thus make an appointment if the electoral body failed to elect within the specified three months, the latter constitution was far less explicit about to whom the power to elect devolved if an electoral body did not follow proper procedure. The former constitution also failed to identify clearly which office constituted the ‘proximate superior’. Both constitutions were based in some sense on recent conciliar decrees (from the Third Lateran Council) or pre-1215 decretals issued from Innocent III’s curia. Since both constitutions lacked certain points of legal precision, several more decretals and conciliar decrees were needed in the thirteenth century before it was fully and clearly decided when the power to elect devolved to the metropolitan and when it devolved to the pope. A constitution by Boniface VIII in the Liber Sextus finally resolved the matter. This essay traces this development.

Anfänge der julianistischen Hierarchien

Abstract:The article sheds light on the expansion and development of the Julianist confession as a branch of the miaphysite creed opposed to Severian Miaphysistism in Syrian, Armenian and South Arabian regions starting with the sixth century. It focuses on the legitimacy of episcopal elections and consecrations. The consecration of Julianist bishops was often disputed and the Julianists tried different methods of creating legitimacy for their episcopal consecrations. One way was to circumvent the ecclesiastical canons and thus create new rules. Another way was to adhere strictly to the canons and search for patrons with undisputed legitimacy. In the Syriac-speaking East the Julianist movement, dominated by monastic circles, soon abandoned the canons and created new rules, while in the borderlands between Armenia and Syria the Julianists found support from the Armenian Church until 726 C. E. The article also follows the historical traces of Julianism in South Arabia and Iraq.

Archiepiscopal and Papal Involvement in Episcopal Elections: The Origins and Reception of Lateran IV cc. 23–24 from the Third Lateran Council to the Liber Sextus

AbstractConstitutions 23 and 24 of the Fourth Lateran Council dealt with episcopal elections, providing the proper timeframe and three possible electoral procedures, respectively. Although the former stipulated that an electoral body’s proximate superior was to gain the potestas eligendi and thus make an appointment if the electoral body failed to elect within the specified three months, the latter constitution was far less explicit about to whom the power to elect devolved if an electoral body did not follow proper procedure. The former constitution also failed to identify clearly which office constituted the ‘proximate superior’. Both constitutions were based in some sense on recent conciliar decrees (from the Third Lateran Council) or pre-1215 decretals issued from Innocent III’s curia. Since both constitutions lacked certain points of legal precision, several more decretals and conciliar decrees were needed in the thirteenth century before it was fully and clearly decided when the power to elect devolved to the metropolitan and when it devolved to the pope. A constitution by Boniface VIII in the Liber Sextus finally resolved the matter. This essay traces this development.

Imperial Intervention in the Disputed Roman Episcopal Election of 418/419

Evidence for the conflict between two rival candidates for the bishopric of Rome following the death of Zosimus at the end of 418 comes from a group of twenty-five letters, most of which are official letters to and from Emperor Honorius (the rest being from other imperial officials and the emperor's sister), all but one of which are found in the Collectio Avellana. Interestingly, we have nothing preserved from the two episcopal claimants about this matter. The group of letters chronicle imperial concern for the preservation of public order. Do we have here an example of imperial interference in episcopal elections in Rome? In this article a careful examination of the letters reveals that Honorius was concerned only that the Roman church's procedures had been followed (Collectio Avellana, Ep. 15), which should determine who was lawful bishop. Sociological Conflict Theory is employed to investigate the nature of the evidence to address issues of the nature of the dispute and its participants, what values were contested, how it escalated, and how it was resolved. Such an approach makes clear that our evidence focuses on the role of the emperor and only incidentally tells us of the thinking and strategy of the two candidates. The final decision was made not on the merits of the candidates and the legality of one of the two elections, but upon Eulalius' violation of the conditions imposed upon the two rivals while the dispute was to be settled. Despite the emperor's concern only to facilitate the church settling this conflict itself, in the end it was an imperial measure that determined the outcome of the disputed election.

From Literal to Spiritual Soldiers of Christ: Disputed Episcopal Elections and the Advent of Christian Processions in Late Antique Rome

There were at least five disputed episcopal elections in the fourth through the sixth centuries. This intra-Christian competition did not, however, lead to the contestation of space in the form of processions as it did, for example, in Constantinople. At Rome, intra-Christian competition took the form, at least rhetorically, of siege and occupation. Instead of conquering urban space through processions—impossible as the Roman aristocracy and their patronage of traditional spectacles still dominated and defined the public sphere—Roman Christians resorted to warfare, until the mid-sixth century C.E. when an impoverished aristocracy ceased to lavish its diminished wealth on traditional forms of public display.Throughout all of these electoral disputes a number of elements consistently emerge: one, the use of martial language to describe the events; two, the concentration on a few contested sites; and three, internal divisions among Roman Christians. A strategy of militaristic occupation of centrally important churches clearly marked these schisms, as each side marched upon and occupied the principal churches of Rome, invading and expelling their enemies from other principal churches when they could. The martial language in the descriptions of these conflicts often veered close to the religious, indicating, hinting, that the origins of Christian processions lie in conflict and battle. From the literal soldiers of Christ, armed with clubs, rocks, and swords, emerged spiritual soldiers bearing crosses and singing hymns.

Episcopal Elections 250-600: Hierarchy and Popular Will in Late Antiquity. By PETER NORTON.

Episcopal Elections 250-600: Hierarchy and Popular Will in Late Antiquity. By PETER NORTON.

The Election of Bishops by Clergy and People: Antonio Rosmini's Neglected Solution

Nineteenth-century priest, philosopher, and theologian Antonio Rosmini argued that the ordinary way of appointing bishops must be through elections by the local clergy and people. All other procedures, including papal nominations, are extraordinary measures that must be resorted to only as a “lesser evil” when exceptional circumstances prevent carrying out elections. This article recovers and critically assesses Rosmini's insights in favor of episcopal elections, with an eye to their relevance to both the current situation in the Roman Catholic Church and ecumenism.

Objections to Episcopal Elections in England, 1216–72

Disputes over episcopal appointments were one of the defining features of church-state relations in thirteenth-century England. This paper considers the episcopal elections which took place during the reign of Henry III (1216–72), focusing on contested elections which resulted in appeals to the papal curia. By examining the claims made about bishops-elect in this context, it is possible to identify the grounds on which kings (and other appellants) might object to the choices made by cathedral chapters. Objections focused on the ways in which the bishop-elect failed to measure up to an extremely specific model of episcopacy; if significant faults could be found, then the election was likely to be quashed. Consequently, theoretical knowledge was an extremely powerful weapon for all those involved in electoral disputes.

Canon Law, Careers and Conquest: Episcopal Elections in Normandy and Greater Anjou, c.1140-c.1230

Canon Law, Careers and Conquest: Episcopal Elections in Normandy and Greater Anjou, c.1140-c.1230

Wybory biskupów w świetle korespondencji Grzegorza Wielkiego

Having presented briefly the context in which the Church found herself, as well as the criteria required of candidates to episcopacy, the author discusses problems related to the promotion of bishops, based on selected examples extracted from the correspondences of Pope Gregory the Great. It shows that His Holiness was aware of the significant role played by episcopal elections in the Church’s life. His interventions in this matter were to ensure that local sees were assigned to appropriate candidates, i.e. those of good reputation, outstanding in good morals and possessing the expertise required in Sacred Scriptures and Catholic doctrines. Procedures implemented by Pope Gregory the Great with the aim of achieving this goal involved, amongst other things gathering information about the candidates to the episcopacy as well as the inclusion of the entire local clergy and all the lay faithful in the electoral process. Such a policy undertaken by His Holiness in promoting episcopates was aimed at strengthening their ties with the Holy See. This proved to be influential, especially during the institutional and structural destruction in Western Italia and threats from the Lombards, who wanted to destroy the well-established traditional Roman order. To avoid all forms of manipulation by lay persons in ecclesiastical matters, this policy excluded the possibility of promoting a layman to the episcopacy. Where there were difficulties in solving electoral issues, Gregory the Great often personally appointed candidates from the local clergy or from the Roman clergy. Pope Gregory the Great also reserved the right of preconisation of the elected bishops.

SSFH Society News

The Society for the Study of French History (SSFH) supports postgraduate research by funding students to carry out archival research as well as helping them to attend and/or present work at conferences. In this edition we present six reports from the 2009 Postgraduate Research Grants competition as well as one report from a Conference Bursary. These awards are open to all postgraduate students registered at a UK university who are carrying out research on any aspect of French history. The reports indicate the range of research interests supported by the Society. There are two reports from conferences, which the Society helped to fund through its Conference Grant programme. More information on these awards is available from the Society's website: www.frenchhistorysociety.ac.uk. One of the most important aspects of my PhD research is a close examination of monastic and episcopal elections in eleventh-century Europe, procedures which have been much stressed in reference to eleventh-century Church reform. In seeking to determine how we can explain the success of papal modes of reform, I have been investigating whether the adoption of practices that were already institutionally familiar in France may have eased this process.

Church and nobility in the Late Medieval Sevilla

In this work we study the relationship between the sevillian nobility and the Church throught the late Middle Ages. We analyze questions such as the noble family origins of Seville's higher clergymen, the nobility's economic relationships with the Church, the participation of clergymen in factions and alliances of the nobility in fifteen century, the nobiliary interfering in some episcopal elections and, finally, the piety of nobility and her spiritual and legitimating significance.

Canon law, careers and conquest. Episcopal elections in Normandy and greater Anjou, c. 1140–c. 1230. By Jörg Peltzer. (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought. 4th Ser.) Pp. xvi+334. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. £60. 978 0 521 88062 6

Canon law, careers and conquest. Episcopal elections in Normandy and greater Anjou, c. 1140–c. 1230. By Jörg Peltzer. (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought. 4th Ser.) Pp. xvi+334. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. £60. 978 0 521 88062 6 - Volume 60 Issue 4

Jorg Peltzer,Canon Law, Careers and Conquest. Episcopal Elections in Normandy and Greater Anjou, c.1140-c.1230

Jorg Peltzer,Canon Law, Careers and Conquest. Episcopal Elections in Normandy and Greater Anjou, c.1140-c.1230

Episcopal Elections 250–600: Hierarchy and Popular Will in Late Antiquity. By Peter Norton. Oxford Classical Monographs. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. xii + 275 pp. $99.00 cloth.

Episcopal Elections 250–600: Hierarchy and Popular Will in Late Antiquity. By Peter Norton. Oxford Classical Monographs. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. xii + 275 pp. $99.00 cloth. - Volume 77 Issue 4

Episcopal elections, 250–600. Hierarchy and popular will in late antiquity. By Peter Norton. (Oxford Classical Monographs.) Pp. xi+271. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. £55. 978 0 19 920747 3

Episcopal elections, 250–600. Hierarchy and popular will in late antiquity. By Peter Norton. (Oxford Classical Monographs.) Pp. xi+271. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. £55. 978 0 19 920747 3 - Volume 59 Issue 4