Law and Power in the Middle Ages: Proceedings of the Fourth Carlsberg Academy Conference on Medieval Legal History (Second Edition)

by Per Andersen (Editor), Mia Munster-Swendsen (Editor), Helle Vogt (Editor)

This volume contains the proceedings from the conference "Law and Power in the Middle Ages" which was held at the Carlsberg Academy in May 2007 in Copenhagen. This was the fourth in the line of conferences known as The Carlsberg Academy Conferences on Medieval Legal History. This second edition focuses on the nexus of law and power and follows the established interdisciplinary tradition of the Carlsberg Academy Conferences on Medieval Legal History in combining approaches from legal, political, social, ecclesiastical, and intellectual history. Hence, the essays cover themes such as royal legislative power and its limits, the power-struggles between political elites, the social impact of theological and legal concepts and debates, and the role of legislation in cases of treason and rebellion. The book also offers the reader a variety of regional case-studies showing law as an instrument of political power, together with more wide-ranging discussions of the long-term application of legal principles and practices and the development of socio-political structures within medieval European societies. Scholars and students of medieval legislation and legal history will find this book a useful contribution to the discussion about the character of vernacular legislation. ( Carlsberg Academy Conference on Medieval Legal History)

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008