IMC 2008: Sessions

Session 1610: Rethinking Early Medieval Narratives

Thursday 10 July 2008, 11.15-12.45

Sponsor:	St Andrews' Institute of Mediaeval Studies, University of St Andrews
Organiser:	Simon MacLean, Department of History, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
Moderator/Chair:	Guy Halsall, Department of History, University of York
Paper 1610-a	The Fall Guy: King Theuderic as Depicted in Gregory of Tours' Histories (Language: English) Adrian Smith, Department of History, University of York Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Political Thought, Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 1610-b	What's Wrong with the Liber Pontificalis? (Language: English) Marios Costambeys, Department of History, University of Liverpool Index terms: Ecclesiastical History, Historiography - Medieval, Political Thought
Paper 1610-c	Otto I's Coronation and the Dating of Widukind's Deeds of the Saxons (Language: English) Steven Robbie, St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies, University of St Andrews Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Political Thought, Politics and Diplomacy
Abstract	The study and re-evaluation of narrative sources lies at the heart of much of the best scholarship on early medieval Europe. This session brings new perspectives to three of the most famous: Gregory of Tours' Histories, the Liber Pontificalis, and Widukind's Deeds of the Saxons. By questioning received wisdom about these texts' composition, dating, and structure, the papers offer new insights into contemporary societies and politics and challenge traditional understandings of Merovingian, papal, and Ottonian history.