Building the Medieval Diocese. Strategies, Agents and Instruments

The Gregorian Reform led to a reframing of the role of bishops and diocesan institutions that cemented their power and ultimately permitted the construction of the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe. To mark the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral of Burgos, we propose to explore the dynamics, strategies, institutions and personnel behind the construction of the medieval diocese leading to the building of the temples we admire today. Our focus will be on the period 1150-1250, culminating as it does in the construction of the Cathedral of Burgos, but we welcome papers on other parts of Europe and set in other medieval periods that explore the following themes related to the emergence of the mature medieval diocese:
• Territorial consolidation: diocesan borders,
inter-diocesan hierarchies and conflicts.
• Structural consolidation: network of parishes, fiscality, ecclesiastical offices and benefices.
• Institutional consolidation: cathedral chapters, use of archdeaconries, archpriesthoods and secular abbeys.
• Intra-diocesan conflict: monasteries, collegial churches etc.
• The agents: bishops, chapter, clergy (bishop-chapter conflict, patronage and client networks, diocesan reforms, education, cultural production).

Submissions:
Proposals no longer than 300 words for either individual papers or panels should be submitted by August 1st to burgensis2020gmail.com

Languages:
Spanish, English Registration

Fee: 50 euros

Key Dates:
• Deadline for submissions, August 1st
• Confirmation of acceptance, September 15th
• Registration opens, October 1st
• Registration ends, November 30th

Venue: Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Burgos
Convenors: Susana Guijarro (Univ. Cantabria), David Peterson (Univ. Burgos)
Organised by: Área de Historia Medieval (Univ. de Burgos) & Grupo de I+D de la Universidad Cantabria Cultura, Sociedad y Poder en la Castilla Medieval y Moderna.

Further information: http://www3.ubu.es/dioceses