IMC 2008: Sessions

Session 208: Supporting the Paupers

Monday 7 July 2008, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:	Institut für Realienkunde, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Krems
Organiser:	Gerhard Jaritz, Institut für Realienkunde, Universität Salzburg, Krems / Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest
Moderator/Chair:	Gerhard Jaritz, Institut für Realienkunde, Universität Salzburg, Krems / Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest
Paper 208-a	Assistance to the Deserving Poor: The Table Guilds in Medieval Livonia (Language: English) Anu Mänd, Institute of History, University of Tallinn Index terms: Daily Life, Gender Studies, Social History
Paper 208-b	The Beggar and the Saint: Poverty and Charity in Towns of Late Medieval Upper Hungary (Language: English) Kristina Potuckova, Independent Scholar, Bratislava Index terms: Art History - Painting, Daily Life, Gender Studies, Local History
Paper 208-c	A Matter of Honour?: The Use of Social Underdogs as Assassins in Medieval Iceland (Language: English) Michael Irlenbusch-Reynard, Independent Scholar, Stavanger Index terms: Daily Life, Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Law, Mentalities
Abstract	The 'use' of poor people in a variety of ways may be seen as significant for medieval society, with regard to religious aspects as well as secular issues. This could lead from the actual material support of the paupers following the seven Works of Charity and furthering the salvation of the donors'souls towards the utilisation of the pennieless folk for actions that one did not want or dare to execute oneself, by promising them different kinds of reward. The session will show such multiplicity of support of the poor documented in textual and visual sources.