Past Convictions. The Penance of Louis the Pious and the Decline of the Carolingians by Courtney M. Booker
Alice Rio
Reviewed by: Past Convictions. The Penance of Louis the Pious and Decline Carolingians by Courtney M. Booker Alice Rio Carolingians. By Booker. [The Middle Ages Series.] (Philadelphia: University Pennsylvania Press. 2009. Pp. x, 420. $75.00. ISBN 978-0-812-24168-6.) These are heady days for studies Carolingian kings. After multiple recent biographies Charlemagne German, two books on appeared: Booker’s Convictions Mayke de Jong’s Penitential State (New York, 2009). It is revealing that whereas most other [End Page 352] kings adopt a biographical approach, both these center one event—that Louis’s famous enforced penance 833. Given this common focus, they surprisingly unlike each other. Whereas follows political events leading up to 833 in broadly chronological structure, focuses more competing currents interpretation their literary legacy. comparatively lighter context weighted favor later memory. Part I, amounting than half book, deals with triumph “loyalist” reading major narrative sources (treated chapter 1) distorting effect success modern scholarship. Chapter 2 legacy accounts medieval writings, along sidelining version presented “rebel” texts; it also examines views early-modern editors texts. 3 takes story through Enlightenment. II then moves away from master consider rebels’ texts own terms: 4 offers close textual analysis arguments contemporary rebel accounts. 5 considers ninth-century connected deposition Archbishop Ebbo, unfortunate scapegoat whole affair. III fits argument into new moral standards priorities established Louis, retraces ideal (Benedictine) equity as implicit counterpart claims regarding “iniquity.” subtitle likely raise hackles actual content book would warrant; perhaps “The Medieval Modern Claims Carolingians” have been accurate. In fact, characterizes not pivotal moment traditional decline but, less controversially, part “continuum process transformation” (p. 10). He issue, however, upbeat readings: “the current trend correct view [of decline] underscoring agency has itself produced skewed early-medieval ‘strategists,’ tacticians who proactively maneuvered difficult times accordance suspiciously notions pragmatism utility” (pp. 7–8). pessimism sources, he argues, did always amount skillful positioning: Sometimes just meant it. One main obstacle understanding properly presumption clever hidden agenda bishops’ presentation case: This ascribed loyalist (one we all love Nithard his Realpolitik too much, an anachronistically cynical view—although some may find be slight caricature research) dramatic “emplotment” lent authors, peopling heroes villains, manipulation, revelations, coups théâtre. Perhaps inevitable downside focusing strands comes at cost clarity over sequence events. As result, does quite convey atmosphere growing panic, eventually reaching 353] fever pitch, which treated so well Jong. show anxiety but make entirely clear what was precisely rebels were anxious about: No explicit reference is...
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