IMC 2015: Sessions
Session 1330: Renewing Bellicosity?: Masculinity between the Love for Enemies and Bloodlust in the Name of Christ
Wednesday 8 July 2015, 16.30-18.00
| Sponsor: | Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Mittelalterstudien (IZMS), Universität Salzburg |
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| Organisers: | Siegrid Schmidt, Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Mittelalterstudien (IZMS), Universität Salzburg Käthe Sonnleitner, Institut für Geschichte, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz |
| Moderator/Chair: | Jutta Baumgartner, Fachbereich Geschichte, Universität Salzburg |
| Paper 1330-a | The Christian Emperor: True Follower of Christ or Warrior for Christ? (Language: English) Index terms: Crusades, Daily Life, Gender Studies, Historiography - Medieval |
| Paper 1330-b | Crusaders: Heroes, Daredevils, Adventurers, Cowards, and Deserters (Language: English) Index terms: Gender Studies, Historiography - Medieval |
| Paper 1330-c | The Christian Knight: Brought up to Foster Nonviolent Virtues or to Wield the Sword (Language: English) Index terms: Gender Studies, Historiography - Medieval |
| Abstract | In the Middle Ages, quite a number of conflicting requirements were imposed on 'masculinities'. On the one hand, Christianity wanted men to be peaceful, merciful, and compassionate by following the example of Christ. On the other hand, medieval social structures required men of the nobility to be bellicose and ready for battle at all times. As a result, the identity of clerics differed widely from the identity of secular men. This caused clashes and conflicts. The difficulties to bridge theses extremities can be exemplified through the various ideologies of power, the crusading ideology and the educative literature. As secular men were influenced by the church, their bellicosity required constant renewal and justification. The church, by contrast, adopted bellicose ideas and left its early Christian roots behind. |