Peacemaking in the Middle Ages : principles and practice / Jenny Benham.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benham, Jenny, author.

Series:

Manchester medieval studies.

Manchester medieval studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civilization, Medieval.

Peace-building--Europe--History--To 1500.

Peace-building.

Europe--History--476-1492.

Europe.

Europe--History--1492-1648.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 250 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2011.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Few historical problems have received so much attention among those studying the modern period and so little attention among medieval scholars as that of peacemaking. In the medieval period, peace was intrinsically linked to Christianity. As peace was seen as the perfect realisation of the laws of God, peace in the medieval period also became a standard justification for war. This book develops Professor Christopher Holdsworth's ideas and to put these, and other, common themes into a wider context by examining two case studies: peacemaking involving the kings of England and their neighbours in Britain and on the continent; and that involving the kings of Denmark and their neighbours. For England, the investigation looks at the reigns of Henry II and his sons, Richard I and John, encompassing the period between 1154 and 1216. For Denmark, the focus is on the reigns of Valdemar I and his sons, Cnut VI and Valdemar II, thereby covering most of the period between 1157 and 1241. In 1177, the treaty of Winchester satisfied what both kings wanted to achieve at that particular time. At the heart of the medieval peacemaking process stood the face-to-face meeting.

Contents:

Introduction

Part I: Meeting places

1. Meetings between equals

2. Meetings between superior and inferior

Part II: The 'rituals' of peacemaking

3. Gift exchanges and banquets: the symbolism of largesse

4. Homage, fealty and gestures of submission

Part III: The envoys

5. The envoys and negotiators of peace

Part IV: Guaranteeing the peace

6. Oaths

7. Hostages and sureties

Part V: Peacemaking and the written word

8. Treaties, terminology and the written word

Conclusion

Index

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 17 Mar 2026).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-5261-4830-7

OCLC:

1467876561