Exploring minor clerics in early medieval Tuscany
Rachel Stone
The article examines minor clerics (clerici) in Carolingian texts. Comparing episcopal capitularies from Italy and Francia suggests that clerici played a more prominent role Italian church life. An analysis of charters the monastery Monte Amiata reveals high proportion clerici. They appear as rurally-based group, with varying levels education, but some local social standing, were often mature men children. prevalence such may be related to northern structure pievi, opportunities these provided for mixed patterns father-son uncle-nephew inheritance office. blurring lay/clerical divide by have particularly worried eleventh-century reformers coming other regions Western Europe.
Reti Medievali Rivista