medieval worlds • no. 19 • 2023
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Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400 https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: verlag@oeaw.ac.at |
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DATUM, UNTERSCHRIFT / DATE, SIGNATURE
BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT, WIEN (IBAN AT04 1100 0006 2280 0100, BIC BKAUATWW), DEUTSCHE BANK MÜNCHEN (IBAN DE16 7007 0024 0238 8270 00, BIC DEUTDEDBMUC)
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medieval worlds • no. 19 • 2023 ISSN 2412-3196 Online Edition ISBN 978-3-7001-9563-4 Online Edition 2023 License: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Indexed by: ERIH-PLUS, Crossref, DOAJ, EZB
Stefan Esders
S. 119 - 140 doi:10.1553/medievalworlds_no19_2023s119 Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften doi:10.1553/medievalworlds_no19_2023s119
Abstract: Starting from more general considerations on the nature and functioning of promissory oaths, this article seeks to shed light on the Christian contribution to the legitimate use of oaths since the Late Antique period. Taking oaths – contrary to Christ’s prohibition of swearing as formulated in the Sermon on the Mount – led to a qualification of oaths and to ecclesiastical punishment of perjury, while early medieval oath formulas show a remarkable legal diversification of the notion of fidelity. General oaths of fidelity enabled post-Roman kings to establish a special kind of legitimacy for their rule that addressed their subjects of Roman and barbarian origin alike. Focusing on individual commitment, enhancing religiously motivated devotion to a ruler, and linking loyalty to essential concepts of the Christian religion, the widespread use of these oaths introduced a change in political discourse that eventually led to the Carolingians addressing their subjects as the fideles Dei et regis, the »faithful of God and the king.« Keywords: Oath, perjury, Christianity, fidelity, loyalty, Carolingian empire, military Published Online: 2023/11/30 10:19:31 Object Identifier: 0xc1aa5576 0x003ea4ff Rights:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
"medieval worlds" provides a forum for comparative, interdisciplinary and transcultural studies of the Middle Ages. Its aim is to overcome disciplinary boundaries, regional limits and national research traditions in Medieval Studies, to open up new spaces for discussion, and to help developing global perspectives. We focus on the period from c. 400 to 1500 CE but do not stick to rigid periodization.
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Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400 https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: verlag@oeaw.ac.at |