The Royal Saints of Anglo-Saxon England: A Study of West Saxon and East Anglian CultsCUP Archive, 1988 - 340 pages Within Anglo-Saxon England there was a strong and enduring tradition of royal sanctity - of men and women of royal birth who, in an age before the development of papal canonisation, came to be venerated as saints by the regional church. This study, which focuses on some of the best-documented cults of the ancient kingdoms of Wessex and East Anglia, is a contribution towards understanding the growth and continuing importance of England's royal cults. The author examines contemporary and near-contemporary theoretical interpretations of the relationship between royal birth and sanctity, analyses in depth the historical process of cult-creation, and addresses the problem of continuity of cult in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of 1066. An understanding therefore emerges of the place of the English royal saint not only in Anglo-Saxon society but also in that of the Anglo-Norman realm. |
Other editions - View all
The Royal Saints of Anglo-Saxon England: A Study of West Saxon and East ... Susan J. Ridyard No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
abbess abbey abbot according Æthelred Anglo-Saxon appears associated bishop body Bury calendar Cambridge century Christian church clear closely concerning continuity cult daughter death described detailed discussion early East Edith Edward eius England English especially established evidence feast foundation further Goscelin hagiographical Ibid importance interest king ladies land late later legend less Letters Liber Library lines Lives London manuscript martyred Medieval Minster miracles monastic monks murdered nature Norman notes Nunnaminster nuns origin Osbert Oxford Passio patron patronage perhaps period Pershore political possible probably promotion quod received recorded reference reign relics religious remained role royal royal saints ruler saint sancti sanctity seems sources St Edburga St Edmund status story suggests tenth century tradition translation uirginis uirgo veneration Vita Vita Edburge Vita Edithe West Saxon Wilton Winchester writing written