Bishops, Giants, and Ideas about Rome in Early Anglo-Saxon PDF
Preview Bishops, Giants, and Ideas about Rome in Early Anglo-Saxon
Bishops, Giants, and Ideas about Rome in Early Anglo-Saxon Literature, 597-c.800 Hollie Maree Thomas BA (Hons) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014 School of History, Philosophy, Religion, and Classics Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Abstract This thesis investigates ideas about the city and culture of Rome in Anglo-Saxon literature for the period from their conversion to Christianity until roughly the close of the eighth century. There is a large body of scholarship concerning “the idea of Rome” in Anglo-Saxon literature, though there is an inherent assumption that this idea was an homogenous one. Rome has been seen by some scholars as the centre of Anglo-Saxon England, and by others as irrelevant. This thesis argues that, in fact, portrayals of the city’s significance are discordant: there was no one “idea” of Rome at this time and the Anglo-Saxons were far from passive recipients of ideas about Rome and its culture. Taking a thematic approach, ideas about religious Rome are given first treatment, as it is from this that so many of the ideas about Rome stem. This is followed in the second chapter by a reassessment of the appeals supposedly made by early Anglo-Saxons to an idea of Rome to political ends. In the third chapter, focus turns to the British landscape and the Anglo-Saxons’ attitudes to Roman-style buildings, whether newly built or preexisting. The final chapter explores the reception of the literary culture of Rome, in terms of historiography, the rhetorical use of geography, and attitudes to pagan material. A re-examination of these ideas about Rome and Roman culture demonstrates that the importance of this city for the newly Christian Anglo-Saxons was, at this nascent stage, multifaceted. i Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. ii Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Publications during candidature No publications. Publications included in this thesis No publications included. iii Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None. iv Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Acknowledgements Thanks above all are due to my wonderful supervisors, John Moorhead and Kriston Rennie, for their patience and support throughout my candidature. John’s wisdom, encyclopedic knowledge, and kindness were complimented perfectly by Kriston’s generosity and ability to push me outside my comfort zone. During the course of my candidature I benefited from funding and awards from various organizations, without which my studies would simply not have been possible. Thank you to The University of Queensland (for an annual stipend); The School of History, Philosophy, Religion, and Classics (for various conference travel grants); The University of Queensland Graduate School (for an International Travel Award that allowed me to take up a visiting studentship at the University of Cambridge); The ARC Network for Early European Research (for a Post-Graduate Travel Award from NEER, which made possible my attendance at the 2011 Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies Conference, in Dunedin, NZ); and The Australian Early Medieval Association (for an Award for the Best Post-graduate or Early Career Researcher Paper at their 2014 conference, which provided some much-needed book funding). I also gladly acknowledge the staff at a number of institutions who have made life easier for me in various ways. In particular, thanks to the staff of the UQ Library (for their patience with my many inter-library loans, and for giving me casual employment at various times); the Cambridge University Library; and the British Museum. The postgraduates, and the academic and professional staff at the University of Queensland have been an invaluable network throughout my studies, both for technical assistance and personal support. The friendship I have found among them will not soon be forgotten. I would also like to note my sincere gratitude to the staff and graduate community at the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic at the University of Cambridge for welcoming me into the fold and providing inspiration, lively discussion, and a collegial atmosphere. In addition, I have benefited greatly from discussions and correspondence with Stephen Lake and Diarmuid Scully, for which I am most appreciative. v Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland To my proofreader, Chris Mallan, I owe sincere thanks, for his attention to detail, generous comments, and good humour. Any and all errors that remain are entirely my own. And finally, I am indebted to my long-suffering friends and family—in particular, my parents—for their grace in dealing with four years of limited conversation and cancelled arrangements. Among them I must also express my especial gratitude to Dan, for his unfailing confidence in me. vi Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Keywords Anglo-Saxons, Rome, Latin literature, Old English literature, Early Christianity, classical reception. Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 210305, British History, 60% ANZSRC code: 200510, Latin and Classical Greek Literature, 20% ANZSRC code: 200503, British and Irish Literature, 20% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2103, Historical Studies, 80% FoR code: 2005, Literary Studies, 20% vii Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Contents ABBREVIATIONS.........................................................................................................................IX INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................1 POSITIONING THE THESIS.............................................................................................................................2 METHOD AND SCOPE..................................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER SUMMARY...................................................................................................................................15 CHAPTER ONE: WAS ROME THE CENTRE OF ANGLO-SAXON CHRISTIANITY?..........................................................................................................................19 OUR SAINT IS BETTER THAN YOUR SAINT: CORRECT RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE......................21 THE ANGLO-SAXONS’ EXPERIENCE OF PAPAL AUTHORITY—REAL OR IMAGINED?..............37 DESTINATION ROME...................................................................................................................................53 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................................68 CHAPTER TWO: POLITICAL USES FOR ROMANITAS................................................70 RELIGIOUS CONVERSION...........................................................................................................................71 ANGLO-SAXON LEGAL CODES................................................................................................................78 THE USE OF ROMAN POLITICAL LANGUAGE........................................................................................87 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................103 CHAPTER THREE: SPOLIA, DUSTSCEAWUNG, AND ROME IN THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE................................................................................................................................105 ROMAN BUILDINGS IN LATIN LITERATURE........................................................................................108 THE REMAINS OF ROMAN BRITAIN IN OLD ENGLISH POETRY....................................................124 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................138 CHAPTER 4: THE IMPACT OF THE ROMAN LITERARY INHERITANCE IN EARLY ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND...................................................................................140 ROMAN AND WORLD HISTORY.............................................................................................................145 WORLD GEOGRAPHY................................................................................................................................162 THE PLACE OF CLASSICAL ROMAN MYTHOLOGY............................................................................176 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................................198 CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................199 WORKS CITED...........................................................................................................................204 MANUSCRIPTS.............................................................................................................................................204 PRIMARY MATERIAL..................................................................................................................................204 SECONDARY MATERIAL...........................................................................................................................215 viii Hollie Thomas, The University of Queensland Abbreviations Aenig. Aenigmata ASC Anglo-Saxon Chronicles Aug. Contr. Faus. Manich. Augustine, Contra Faustum Manichaeum Aug. De catech. rud. Augustine, De catechizandis rudibus Aug. De civ. Augustine, De civitate Dei Aug. De div. quaest. Augustine, De diversis quaestionibus Aug. De Gen. contr. Manich. Augustine, De Genesi contra Manichaeos Carmen eccl. Aldhelm, Carmen ecclesiastica Carmen de virg. Aldhelm, Carmen de virginitate CCSL Corpus Christianorum series latina Comm. Cant. cant. Bede, In Cantica Canticorum allegorica expositio Comm. Epist. Cath. Bede, Super Epistulas Catholicas expositio Comm. Ezr. Bede, In Ezram et Neemiam prophetas allegorica expositio Comm. Luc. Bede, In Lucae euangelium expositio Comm. Sam. Bede, In Samuelem prophetam allegorica expositio ix
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