Court Culture in the Early Middle Ages: The Proceedings of the First Alcuin Conference (review)
Pamela O'Neill
Reviewed by: Court Culture in the Early Middle Ages: Proceedings of First Alcuin Conference Pamela O’Neill Cubitt, Catherine , ed., Conference, ( Studies Ages, 3), Turnhout, Brepols, 2003; hardback; pp. xiv, 290, 47 b/w illustrations; RRP €75; ISBN 2503511643. Ages is third a very welcome series focusing on Western Europe early medieval period produced by Brepols under auspices Centre for Medieval at University York. This volume contains six papers Carolingian courts, three Anglo-Saxon one papal and two Byzantine courts. It unsurprising that aspect over-represented, since book proceedings conference. Cubitt's 'Introduction' competently reviews development current state scholarship about court culture, providing useful background against which to read following papers. Donald A. Bullough's paper 'Unsettled Aachen: between Frankfurt Tours' what known Alcuin's life writings shed interesting light position attitudes relation his native England Charlemagne. In 'Was Charlemagne's Courtly Society?' Janet L. Nelson assesses major indicators: existence space, identifiable enhancement royal authority, answer her question affirmative. Matthew Innes ('"A Place Discipline": Courts Aristocratic Youth') examines central role [End Page 215] young men aristocratic birth. role, he stresses, was example discipline, rather than formal instruction. marred occasional grammatical errors should have been eliminated proofreading (e.g. 67, 73). 'Mathematics Its Transmission', Paul Butzer Karl W. bring scientific approaches study culture. Claims 'a few gifted reflective individuals' were able 'work effectively even out-of-the-way places' 'liturgical planning advance' required 'to inform small or distant Christian communities' suggest Butzers' understanding transmission organisation ecclesiastical communities diverges from majority scholars. Nonetheless, their survey works computus, geometry arithmetic informative. Lawrence Nees 'The Illustrated Manuscript Visio Baronti', considering range possible readings illustrations, 'do not necessarily tell same story' as text. Although unwilling imagine 'that designer illustrations post-modernist before time who revelled slippery signifiers own sake', it seems clear did intend be slippery; word multivalent comes mind. The physical setting examined Uwe Lobbedey 'Carolingian Royal Palaces: State Research an Architectural Historian's Viewpoint'. points out 'we know less we thought some years ago', gives insightful overview do know, illustrated plans photographs. James Campbell painstakingly assembles meagre evidence world court, ends 'desperation' looking Norwegian sources supplementation. 'Wrestling with Hercules: King Alfred Classical Past', Susan Irvine advances quite convincing argument adopted adapted figure Hercules model 'Christian morality' 'intellectual vitality' so dedicated. David Pratt's 'Persuasion Invention Great' similarly its surviving Jewel (which considers aestel) comparable fittings, reported candle-lantern Alfred's invention, Fuller Brooch reflect preoccupation learning wisdom. He thus neatly contextualises objects generated much debate over number years. 216] 'Papal...
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