IMC 2005: Sessions

Session 514: Kings Gone to Kingdom Come: Images of Old and Dying Rulers

Tuesday 12 July 2005, 09.00-10.30

Sponsor:	Graduiertenkolleg 'Gesellschaftliche Symbolik im Mittelalter', Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster
Organiser:	Vera Johanterwage, Graduiertenkolleg 'Gesellschaftliche Symbolik im Mittelalter', Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Moderator/Chair:	Theo Riches, Departments of Medieval & Modern History, University of Birmingham
Paper 514-a	Representations of Age in the Bayeux Tapestry (Language: English) Christina Oppel, Historisches Seminar, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Index terms: Art History - Decorative Arts, Historiography - Medieval, Political Thought
Paper 514-b	'In the sickness he let Latin books be read to him…': Descriptions of Age and Death in the Kings' Sagas (Language: English) Vera Johanterwage, Graduiertenkolleg 'Gesellschaftliche Symbolik im Mittelalter', Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Local History, Politics and Diplomacy
Abstract	Christina Oppel will investigate visual representations of (old) age in contrastive juxtaposition to youth in the Bayeux Tapestry. The depictions of rites of passage such as the death and burial of Edward the Confessor will be discussed in detail. Vera Johanterwage will examine descriptions of both youth and age of Norwegian kings in the kings' sagas. By comparing narrative and chronological elements the paper will focus on the perception of old age and the death of rulers in mediaeval Norway. Stefanie Menke will discuss rituals of death and burial under the Habsburg emperors and their development from the late Middle Ages into the early modern period. By analysing the role of the burials as political instruments the paper will examine whether or not the dynasty developed burial rituals which can be called typical of the Habsburh ideology.