Bishops in the Medieval Empire: New Perspectives on the Church, State and Episcopal Office
John Eldevik
Through the mid-20th century, most historical research on bishops and episcopate in early medieval Germany Holy Roman Empire was carried out within a conceptual framework known as Imperial Church System (Reichskirchensystem), merging of church royal government. The Reichskirchensystem grew tradition 19th century political history which took its primary concern evolution modern constitutional state viewed personnel – namely mostly negative influences those processes over time. In post-war period, new approaches to social German academy prompted scholars recast aristocratic elites focus way they exercised lordship, or Herrschaft. More recently, studies episcopacy have embraced variety interdisciplinary methods sources begun explore ways construed their power unique sphere authority worlds Middle Ages.
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