Skip to main content

IMC 2020: Sessions

Session 701: 'That was a good king?': Re-Presentations of English Kingship in Medieval Literature

Tuesday 7 July 2020, 14.15-15.45

Organiser:Karl Christian Alvestad, Department of History, University of Winchester
Moderator/Chair:Gabrielle Storey, Department of History, University of Winchester
Paper 701-aGifts from across the Sea: Aspects of Cnut and Athelstan's Kingship as Seen through Heimskringla
(Language: English)
Karl Christian Alvestad, Department of History, University of Winchester
Index terms: Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Political Thought
Paper 701-b'Outstanding courage and generosity': Arthurian Kingship as Mediator between Pre- and Post-Conquest English Literature
(Language: English)
Charlotte Liebelt, School of Humanities, Canterbury Christ Church University
Index terms: Language and Literature - Old English, Language and Literature - Middle English, Political Thought
Paper 701-cHear Me Roar!: The Consolidation of Lancastrian Kingship in George Ashby's Active Policy of a Prince
(Language: English)
Aline Douma, Afdeling Engelse Taal en Cultuur, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Index terms: Language and Literature - Middle English, Manuscripts and Palaeography, Political Thought
Abstract

This session seeks to explore aspects of medieval English kingship in a variety of literary genres in both English and Norse literature. The papers will focus on how authors and text re-present concepts and aspects of English kingship. The presenters take this approach to facilitate a broader debate on medieval authors understanding and interpretation of the actions and behaviours of kings and kingship. To achieve this Alvestad will explore Anglo-Saxon kingship as presented in Heimskringla, while Liebelt will consider Arthurian kingship as mediator between pre- and post-Conquest English literature. Whereas Douma will consider Lancastrian kingship as seen by George Ashby.