Friendship in the Merovingian kingdoms : Venantius Fortunatus and his contemporaries / by Hope Williard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Williard, Hope, author.

Series:

CARMEN monographs and studies.

CARMEN monographs and studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fortunatus, Venantius Honorius Clementianus, approximately 540-approximately 600.

Fortunatus, Venantius Honorius Clementianus.

Poets, French--To 1500.

Poets, French.

Friendship--France--History--To 1500.

Friendship.

France--Social life and customs--To 1328.

France.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (253 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Leeds : Arc Humanities Press, 2023.

Summary:

This volume explores how one early medieval poet survived and thrived amidst the political turbulence of sixth century Gaul - with a little help from his friends. Born in northern Italy, Venantius Fortunatus made his career writing for and about members of the Merovingian elite. Although he is no longer dismissed as an opportunistic poetaster who wrote undistinguished flattery for undeserving kings and aristocrats, his work remains unduly neglected. This book reframes Fortunatus as a writer uniquely suited to his times, a professional poet who addressed his contemporaries' needs and wishes for the prestige and sophistication of Classical culture. His poems and letters enabled his aristocratic patrons to situate themselves in networks, which they made and maintained in order to navigate a post-imperial but not post-Roman world.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Friendly Patron and His Client

Chapter 2. Episcopal and Lay Building Projects

Chapter 3. Friendships with Merovingian Women

Chapter 4. Writing for Royalty

Chapter 5. Literary Friendships and Elite Identity

Conclusion

Select Bibliography

Index of Poems Cited

General Index

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2022.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (viewed on May 2, 2023).

ISBN:

9781802700343

180270034X

OCLC:

1350705723