Handwritten text on a charter, with reference to William and King

Identifying Governmental Forms in Europe, 1100–1350: Palaeography, Diplomatics and History

Date: Monday 3rd–Tuesday 4th April 2017

Venue: University of Glasgow, Room 253, Gilbert Scott Conference Suite Main Building 

Sponsor: A colloquium hosted by Models of Authority

The origins of the modern state have long been located in the European central Middle Ages. But the focus on origins has produced a too-narrow view of what government looked like and what kinds of authorities could govern in the central medieval period. This two-day colloquium brings together scholars from across Europe to expand our understanding of medieval government and the influences brought to bear upon its expression. Its methodological focus is history’s so-called ‘auxiliary sciences’ of diplomatics and palaeography, inspired by the research aims lying behind the collaborative research project, Models of Authority: Scottish Charters and the Emergence of Government, 1100-1250 (www.modelsofauthority.ac.uk). Both palaeography and diplomatics are traditionally used in studies of medieval government to illuminate the development of bureaucracy and institutional complexity, but here will also be examined to understand the communication and representation of governmental forms in all their varieties, as well as the interplay between them. 

Registration and Attendance

The cost of attending the colloquium is free, and lunch and refreshments will be provided for all attendees. The papers will be pre-circulated to aid discussion over the two days. Please note that because of the pre-circulated format, places at the colloquium are limited to aide discussion.

Email alice.taylor@kcl.ac.uk to register.

Deadline to register: 10 March 2017

There will be a dinner on the evening of Monday 3rd April. Please email alice.taylor@kcl.ac.uk if you would like to attend, with any dietary requirements. 

Programme

Monday 3rd April 2017

 
Introduction
 
Session1
 
0930-0940 Welcome: Professor Roibeard O Maolalaigh, VP/Head of the College of Arts, University of Glasgow
0940-0955 Introduction: Diplomatics and government in Europe during the central Middle Ages
1000-1040 Richard Sharpe (University of Oxford): ‘Initials and informed government in the Anglo-Norman period’
1040-1120 Kathryn Dutton (University of Manchester): ‘The form and discourse of government in twelfth-century Anjou’
 
1120-1140 Break
 

Session 2

1140-1220 Alheydis Plassmann (University of Bonn): ‘Identifying Burgundy as part of the Empire: the Staufen emperors in a peripheral region’
1220-1300 Sverre Bagge (University of Bergen): ‘The royal chancery in Norway, 1250-1319’
 
1300-1350 Lunch
 

Session 3

1350-1430 Els de Paermentier (Ghent University): ‘Observe, learn and create: Influences of the French and English royal chanceries on the Flemish comital charters (12th-13th centuries)’
1430-1510 Alice Taylor (King’s College London): ‘Creating aristocratic power in royal charters in twelfth- and early thirteenth-century France (and Scotland)’
 
1510-1530 Break
 
Session 4
 
1530-1610 Nicolas Ruffini-Ronzani (University of Namur): ‘A comital chancellor at the dawn of the 13th century: Gislebert of Mons and the making of the “feudal” and “penal” charters of Hainault’
1610-1650 Matthew Hammond (University of Glasgow): ‘Contexts for assertions of noble status in Scottish charters, c. 1160 to c. 1260’
 

Tuesday 4th April 2017

 
Session 1
 
0910-0950 Sébastien Barret (IRHT-CNRS, Paris-Orléans): ‘Forms, typology, and normalisation: French royal charters in the thirteenth century’
0950-1030 Marie Therese Flanagan (Queen’s University, Belfast): ‘Latin charters and the Europeanisation of Irish kingship’
 
1030-1050 Break
 
Session 2
 
1050-1130 John Reuben Davies (University of Glasgow): ‘Royal government in Scotland and the development of diplomatic forms, 1093-1250’
1130-1210 László Veszprémy (Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest) : ‘The emergence of charter script: kings, chancellors and scribes in Hungary, 1200-1250’
 
1210-1300 Lunch
 
Session 3
 
1300-1340 Jessica Berenbeim (Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Studies, London): ‘From seals to ceilings: governmental and Gothic form’
1340-1420 Fernando Arias Guillén (University of Valladolid): ‘Loryal vassals, dynastic prestige, and an ever-growing kingdom: the representation of royal authority in the privilegios rodados during the reign of Alfonso X of Castile and Leon (1252-84)’
 
Concluding remarks
 
1430-1445 Dauvit Broun, University of Glasgow 

 

On Tuesday 4 April, there will be a launch of an exhibition produced as part of the Models of Authority project in Edinburgh at 18:00. All delegates of the colloquium are invited to attend.

On Wednesday 5 April, Models of Authority is holding a public conference at the University of Glasgow between 10:00 and 16:30. All delegates of the colloquium are invited to attend.