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IMC 2013: Sessions

Session 1230: Charters and Laypersons: Making, Using, and Keeping

Wednesday 3 July 2013, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung, Universität Wien
Organiser:Herwig Weigl, Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung / Institut für Geschichte, Universität Wien
Moderator/Chair:Levi Roach, Department of History, University of Exeter
Paper 1230-aLaypersons and Royal Charters in the Carolingian Era
(Language: English)
Brigitte Merta, Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung, Universität Wien
Index terms: Charters and Diplomatics, Literacy and Orality, Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 1230-bCharters and Lay Literacy in England in the 11th and 12th Centuries
(Language: English)
Nicholas Karn, Department of History, University of Southampton
Index terms: Administration, Charters and Diplomatics, Literacy and Orality
Paper 1230-cTo See the Charter or To Hear It Read: Charters and Laypersons in the Late Medieval Civilised and Less Civilised Regions
(Language: English)
Herwig Weigl, Institut für Österreichische Geschichtsforschung / Institut für Geschichte, Universität Wien
Index terms: Administration, Charters and Diplomatics, Literacy and Orality
Abstract

The papers will investigate the use of charters for and by laypersons in three chronological steps, in different regions, and on different levels of society. Three case studies on laypersons (nobles and citizens) issuing, receiving, and keeping charters will deal with topics such as ceremony, prestige, and political uses, the level of lay literacy and the understanding of charters, their legal necessity and everyday use, the recruitment of scribes and the chances of transmission or loss. Comparisons with the ecclesiastical recipients will be drawn.