Call for Papers: Building the Medieval Diocese. Strategies, Agents and Instruments. Burgos, 9-11 December 2020
The Gregorian Reform led to a reframing of the role of bishops and diocesan institutions that cemented their power and ultimately permitted the construction of the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe. To mark the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral of Burgos, This conference proposes to explore the dynamics, strategies, institutions and personnel behind the construction of the medieval diocese leading to the building of the temples we admire today. The conference focus will be on the period 1150-1250, culminating as it does in the construction of the Cathedral of Burgos, but papers on other parts of Europe and set in other medieval periods are welcome. The papers should explore the following themes related to the emergence of the mature medieval diocese:
- Territorial consolidation: diocesan borders, inter-diocesan hierarchies and conflicts.
- Structural consolidation: network of parishes, fiscality, ecclesiastical offices and benefices.
- Institutional consolidation: cathedral chapters, use of archdeaconries, archpriesthoods and secular abbeys.
- Intra-diocesan conflict: monasteries, collegial churches etc.
- The agents: bishops, chapter, clergy (bishop-chapter conflict, patronage and client networks, diocesan reforms, education, cultural production).
Proposals no longer than 300 words for either individual papers or panels should be submitted by 1 August 2020 to burgensis2020@gmail.com
Languages: Spanish, English
Venue: Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Burgos
Convenors: Susana Guijarro (Univ. Cantabria), David Peterson (Univ. Burgos)
Organised by: Área de Historia Medieval (Univ. de Burgos) & Grupo de I+D de la Universidad Cantabria Cultura, Sociedad y Poder en la Castilla Medieval y Moderna.