Courts, Elites and Gendered Power in the Early Middle Ages: Charlemagne and Others, by Janet L. Nelson
Marios Costambeys
Professor Dame Janet Nelson has been rather more than just a participant in the recent work on courts, élites and gendered power that is attested by some of essays here, which were first published collections those subjects: often she its instigator, or inspiration. Since much her output consisted this kind, sometimes offer as insight many book-length study, compilation themes over last twenty-five years very welcome. The book divided into two parts, ‘Gender Power’ ‘Charlemagne Others’, reflecting primary subject-matter essays. Both these themes, however, form umbrellas for multiplicity others; nonetheless, there thematic consistency to whole volume makes it sum parts. Thus, ‘Monks, secular men masculinity, c.900’, successfully rebalances gender category analysis with proper consideration while also providing insights textual representations hagiography monastic distinctiveness, convincingly demonstrating how Carolingian concern reform gave rise practicable alternative lifestyles aristocrats. Similarly, when considering (in ‘Peers early Middle Ages’) formation functions peer groups—those bonded horizontal social associations—Nelson not only helps reconfigure our view medieval structure, but uncovers oaths, workings military retinues, political dynamics regime (that Charles Bald). essays, moreover, move beyond groups discuss real relationships anxieties. section includes studies context court, disposal property widows, place women ecclesiastical reform, reviews, one flawed attempt uncover ‘private life’ late antiquity middle ages, other number Byzantine empresses.
The English Historical Review