Boundary clauses and the use of the vernacular in eastern Frankish charters, c.750–c.900*
Edward Roberts
Abstract Of the thousands of surviving charters from eastern Carolingian Francia, remarkably few contain boundary clauses, even though ceremonial perambulations were a prominent aspect property transactions. This article examines these clauses asking when and why written down in charters, why, an overwhelmingly Latin charter tradition, this was often done with vernacular language. The analysis suggests that intended as rhetorical statements elite identification authority, usually signalling involvement powerful patrons significant properties. contributes to debates concerning ritual, rhetoric interaction between orality literacy medieval charters.
Historical Research|Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent)