‘Because their patron never dies’: ecclesiastical freedmen, socio‐religious interaction, and group formation under the aegis of ‘church property’ in the early medieval west (sixth to eleventh centuries)
Stefan Esders
In the early medieval west, patronate, as adapted from Roman law, was a fundamental category in determining legal status of freedmen. many cases it entailed basic set obligations. an increasing number situations, however, patron became ecclesiastical institution, since slaves and freed persons were often given to churches monasteries. As institutions regarded their patronal rights over part inalienable church property, relationship permanent inheritable. Eastern Francia (the Rhineland beyond) this transformed freedmen into religiously defined social groups with potentially distinct aims, religious tasks, organizational structures, shared notion freedom. From Carolingian period onward, even attractive enter voluntarily status. It is argued here that its underlying network socio‐religious relations, patronate censuales can be better understood when considered element ‘temple society’ .
Early Medieval Europe|Refubium (Universitätsbibliothek der Freien Universität Berlin)