Beginning with Saint Barbatianus, a fifth-century wonderworking monk and confessor to the Empress Galla Placidia, this book focuses on the changes in the religious landscape of Ravenna, a former capital of the Late Roman Empire, through the Middle Ages. During this period, written stories about saints and their relics not only offered guidance and solace but were also used by those living among the ruins of a once great cityparticularly its archbishops, monks, and the urban aristocracyto reflect on its past glory. This practice remained important to the citizens of Ravenna as they came to terms with the city's revival and renewed relevance in the tenth century under Ottonian rule. In using the vita of Barbatianus as a central text, Edward M. Schoolman explores how saints and sanctity were created and ultimately came to influence complex political and social networks, from the Late Roman Empire to the High Middle Ages.

Casts new light on the topic of medieval hagiography through its specific examination of Ravenna Fills a much needed gap in the scholarship of Italian history and its rich connection to religion and sainthood Explores a wide swath of history, from the Late Roman Empire to the High Middle Ages.

Autorentext

Edward M. Schoolman is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Chapter 1: Barbatianus in Late Antiquity.- Chapter 2: The Contexts of Medieval Ravenna.- Chapter 3: The Hagiographic Landscape of Medieval Ravenna.- Chapter 4: The History of the Vita Barbatiani.- Chapter 5: Content and Composition of the Vita Barbatiani.- Chapter 6: Barbatianus in the Later Middle Ages.- Chapter 7: Conclusions