IMC 2008: Sessions
Session 1011: Inside the VIP Suite: The Roles of a Ruler's Favourite
Wednesday 9 July 2008, 09.00-10.30
| Sponsor: | Zentrum für Mittelalterstudien, Otto-Friedrich-Universität, Bamberg |
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| Organiser: | Stefan Bießenecker, Lehrstuhl Mittelalterliche Geschichte unter Einbeziehung der Landesgeschichte, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg |
| Moderator/Chair: | Maya Yazigi, Department of Classical, Near Eastern & Religious Studies, University of British Columbia |
| Paper 1011-a | Trust and Power: The Eunuchs in the Abbasid Caliphate (Language: English) Index terms: Anthropology, Islamic and Arabic Studies, Mentalities, Politics and Diplomacy |
| Paper 1011-b | A Parvenu: Political and Social Consequences of Being a Favourite (Language: English) Index terms: Anthropology, Mentalities, Politics and Diplomacy |
| Paper 1011-c | Amici regis in Aragonese Naples: Diomede Carafa and Jacobo Sannazaro (Language: English) Index terms: Anthropology, Language and Literature - Latin, Politics and Diplomacy |
| Abstract | Every powerful man has a special friend who enjoys his favour. This favourite has absolute access to the ruler, sometimes even to his most private rooms. Due to this an erotic relationship has often been suggested but rarely if ever verified. For the 16th-20th centuries we know a lot about the role of the favourite. But for the Middle Ages, in contrary to the many reports about 'well beloved friends' in the ruler's entourage, there is little historic research on this topic. In this session very different favourites will be presented to show different aspects of the favourite's role. |