The Popes and the Papacy in the Early Middle Ages, 476-752

437 Pages·1979·19.546 MB·English

by  Jeffrey Richards

Routledge Revivals
The Popes and the Papacy in the Early
Middle Ages, 476-752
There has been a tendency to the view the history of the early medieval
papacy predominantly in ideological terms, which has resulted in the
over-exaggeration of the idea of the papal monarchy. In this study, first
published in 1979, Jeffrey Richards questions this orthodox view,
arguing that whilst the papacy's power and responsibility grew during
the period under discussion, it did so by a series of historical accidents
rather than a coherent radical design.
The title redresses the imbalance implicit in the monarchical inter
pretation, and emphasizes other important political, administrative and
social aspects of papal history. As such it will be of particular value to
students interested in the history of the Church; in particular, the
development of the early medieval papacy, and the shifting policies and
characteristics of the popes themselves.
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The Popes and the Papacy in
the Early Middle Ages,
476-752
Jeffrey Richards
Routledge
REVIVA LS Taylor & Francis Group
First published in 1979
by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
This edition first published in 2014 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 1979 Jeffrey Richards
The right of Jeffrey Richards to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic! mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but
points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
Disclaimer
The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes
correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.
A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 78041023
ISBN 13: 978-1-138-77784-2 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-77236-3 (ebk)
THE
POPES
AND THE
PAPACY
IN THE EARLY MIDDLE
AGES
476-752
Jeffrey Richards
ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL
LONDON, BOSTON AND HENLEY
First published in 1979
by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
39 Store Street, London WC1E 7DD,
Broadway House, Newtown Road,
Henley-on-Thames,
Oxon RG9 lEN and
9 Park Street,
Boston, Mass. 02108, USA
Phototypeset in V.I.P. Bembo by
Western Printing Services Ltd, Bristol
and printed in Great Britain by
Redwood Burn Ltd Trowbridge and Esher
©Jeffrey Richards 1979
No part of this book may be reproduced in
any form without permission from the
publisher, except for the quotation of brief
passages in criticism
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Richards, Jeffrey
The Popes and the Papacy in the early Middle
Ages, 476-752
1. Papacy - History - To 1309
I. Title
262'.13'09021 BX965 78-41023
ISBN 0 7100 0098 7
This book is dedicated with gratitude and respect to those gallant
gentlemen whose example of courage, dedication and determination both
in victory and in defeat has proved a constant inspiration:
John Gidman Brian Little Andy Gray
John Deehan Alex Cropley Dennis Mortimer
Leighton Phillips Chris Nicholl Jimmy Rimmer
Frank Carrodus Gordon Cowans John Robson
Ian Ross Charlie Aitken Ron Saunders
Ken McNaught John Gregory Gordon Smith
Keith Leonard Allan Evans Tommy Craig
I humbly ask that the ears oj the learned tolerate some
rustic expressions without complaining so that the
Lord's flock receive celestial nourishment in simple and
down to earth language.
St Caesarius oj Arelate
Contents
Acknowledgments IX
Introduction 1
Part I The Context 7
1 The Ideological Context 9
2 The Political and Religious Context 29
3 The Social and Economic Context 47
Part II The Papacy under the Ostrogoths 55
4 The Acacian Schism 57
5 The Symmachan Schism (i) the events 69
6 The Symmachan Schism (ii) issues and participants 77
7 The Rapprochement with the East 100
8 The Gothic Reaction 114
Part III The Papacy under the Empire 137
9 The 'Three Chapters' Controversy 139
10 The Lombardic Crisis 162
11 The Monothelete Crisis 181
12 The Papal Revival 201
13 The Final Crisis 216
Part IV The Popes 233
14 Class Origins 235
15 Age and Experience 249
16 Geographical Origins and Cultural Attainments 269
Part V The Papal Administration 287
17 The Central Administration 289
18 The Patrimonial Administration 307