IMC 2021: Sessions

Session 309: Making and Breaking Loyalty in the Anglo-Norman World

Monday 5 July 2021, 16.30-18.00

Sponsor:	Haskins Society / Battle Conference on Anglo-Norman Studies
Organiser:	Hannah Boston, Trinity College, University of Oxford
Moderator/Chair:	Lucas Villegas-Aristizábal, Bader International Study Centre, Herstmonceux Castle, Queen's University, Ontario
Paper 309-a	Making New Loyalties in Norman England (Language: English) Chris Lewis, Institute of Historical Research, University of London / Department of History, King's College London Index terms: Geography and Settlement Studies, Local History, Mentalities, Social History
Paper 309-b	'Our Enemies in the North': The Revolt of Robert de Mowbray, 1095 (Language: English) William M. Aird, School of History, Classics & Archaeology, University of Edinburgh Index terms: Local History, Military History, Politics and Diplomacy
Paper 309-c	Loyalty as Emotion in Orderic Vitalis (Language: English) Hannah Boston, Trinity College, University of Oxford Index terms: Language and Literature - Latin, Mentalities, Social History
Abstract	Conventional thinking puts formal acts of 'fealty' at the heart of medieval lordship. We want to broaden out and reflect on 'loyalty' as an emotional and experiential bond which includes fealty but has the scope for more productive nuances in understanding human behaviour. Loyalty works up, down, and across social ranks, and can encompass loyalty to groups as well as individuals, and loyalty to places as well as people. Starting with case-studies, these papers offer some general reflections on how the making and breaking of loyalty worked in practice, and on the utility of the concept.