Charters as weapons. On the role played by early medieval dispute records in the disputes they record
Warren Brown
This paper seeks to shed more light on how written records were used during the Carolingian period by examining role played of property disputes in they record. In it I argue that dispute important tools clerical scribes could use further their church’s interests, undermine interests opponents, and help church take advantage changes regional political landscape. My examples come from Bavarian cathedral at Freising first decades ninth century. These charters indicate Freising’s crafted enhance image bishop, reputation community realise what saw as its rights. They also sought Charlemagne’s recent conquest Bavaria appealing much possible sympathies judicial authorities. addition, create useful histories for property, mask potentially competing histories, reward landholding kindreds who allied themselves with guaranteeing them a positive memory.
Journal of Medieval History