Canon Law, King John, Medieval Church, Edward II, Edward III, and 5 more

More Info: Ashgate, January 2014

Birkbeck, University of London 15-16 July 2016

History of Religion, History of Medicine, History of Religions, History of Nursing, History of Medicine and the Body, and 1 more

Food and drink played an important part in medieval piety, but to date most studies of this topic have focused on the food practices on medieval women. This paper seeks to redress the balance by considering the signif... more abstractFood and drink played an important part in medieval piety, but to date most studies of this topic have focused on the food practices on medieval women. This paper seeks to redress the balance by considering the significance of food and drink to religious men, through a case study of a culturally significant and well-documented group: the saintly bishops of medieval England. The food practices of these men were shaped by religious thought, but also by contemporary ideas about the body, gender and social status. Ultimately, a holy man’s relationship with food and drink would influence his chances of canonisation.

Medieval History, Hagiography, Medieval Church History, Medieval Masculinities, Medieval sanctity, and 3 more

Publication Date: Jun 2015

Publication Name: Viator

This article explores the significance of weeping in the lives of late medieval English bishops (c.1100−c.1400). It considers the lachrymose devotions of saintly bishops alongside tears of grief, friendship and self-p... more abstractThis article explores the significance of weeping in the lives of late medieval English bishops (c.1100−c.1400). It considers the lachrymose devotions of saintly bishops alongside tears of grief, friendship and self-pity, and asks how such displays of emotion were understood by contemporary onlookers. It is argued that a bishop's tears were key to perceptions of his masculinity, sexuality and physical body, which in turn had significant implications for his reputation both as a prelate and as a potential saint.

History Of Emotions and Medieval Bishops

Publication Date: 2014

Publication Name: Historical Research

Publication Date: 2014

Publication Name: Fourteenth Century England VIII

Publication Date: Sep 2013

Publication Name: Southern History

Papacy (Medieval Church History), Henry III of England (1216-1272), and Medieval Episcopacy

Today, choosing a new Archbishop of Canterbury is a relatively straightforward process. It was not always so, as Katherine Harvey explains.

More Info: History Today 62.10 (October 2012)

During this talk Dr Katherine Harvey explores the role of medicine in the lives of the English bishops in the centuries between the Norman Conquest and the Reformation. Medieval medicine was as much about prevention a... more abstractDuring this talk Dr Katherine Harvey explores the role of medicine in the lives of the English bishops in the centuries between the Norman Conquest and the Reformation. Medieval medicine was as much about prevention as cure, and it was believed that an individual’s health was greatly influenced by ‘non-natural’ factors such as air, travel and emotions. Learn how bishops controlled these factors, and what treatments they received when they fell ill.

Medieval Medicine and Medieval Bishops

Medieval sexuality, History of Death & Dying, Medieval sanctity, and Medieval Bishops

Location: Ecclesiastical History Society Conference, University of York

Event Date: Jul 2015

William of Malmesbury, Medieval Medicine, and Medieval Bishops

Location: Oxford University

Event Date: Jul 4, 2015

This paper examines the significance of episcopal sexuality in medieval England, with a particular focus on the twelfth and thirteenth centuries- that is, the first two centuries after the Gregorian reform movement ma... more abstractThis paper examines the significance of episcopal sexuality in medieval England, with a particular focus on the twelfth and thirteenth centuries- that is, the first two centuries after the Gregorian reform movement made celibacy an obligation for all priests, and a period which has been described as a golden age of episcopal sanctity in Western Europe. This new emphasis on clerical celibacy meant that the sexual behaviour of would-be saint bishops was intensely scrutinised; such men needed to be unquestionably celibate, and preferably virginal, if they were to stand any chance of being formally canonised. In this talk, I will approach episcopal sexuality through the prism of contemporary ideas about medicine and the body, in order to shed new light on the lived experience of clerical celibacy from the perspective of a group of men who were particularly devoted to this troublesome ideal. Questions to be addressed include: How was long-term celibacy thought to affect the health of religious men? How could medical knowledge help clerics to achieve bodily purity? How did sexuality relate to the ascetic lifestyle, and how did hagiographers use this relationship to suggest that their subjects were truly celibate? And how could such ideas be subverted, in order to suggest that a less-than-saintly bishop was falling far short of the standards expected of him?

History of Medicine, History of Sexuality, and Medieval Bishops

Time: 6 PM to 8 PM

Location: Institute of Historical Research, London

Event Date: Oct 7, 2014

Time: 2 PM to 4 PM

Location: Leeds International Medieval Congress

Event Date: Jul 10, 2014

Organization: Part of a double session on 'Cultures of the Close'

Location: University of Winchester

Event Date: Jan 11, 2014

Organization: Gender and Medieval Studies 2014

Food, Drink and the Episcopal Body This paper will examine the role of food and drink in the life of the bishops of later medieval England (c.1100-c.1500). It will begin by considering variations in the episcopal die... more abstractFood, Drink and the Episcopal Body This paper will examine the role of food and drink in the life of the bishops of later medieval England (c.1100-c.1500). It will begin by considering variations in the episcopal diet, from courtier-bishops who dined lavishly to saint-bishops who barely ate. It will then explore the significance of these dietary choices, focusing on the effects which diet had (or was thought to have) on the episcopal body, and addressing questions such as: What role did diet play in the episcopal regimen? How was food and drink used to ensure that the bishop remained healthy? How did bishops experience, and react to, the consequences of frequent fasting or over-eating? Under what circumstances might a bishop alter his diet? The second section of the paper will examine contemporary attitudes to episcopal diet. Positive accounts of clerical lives (in particular the vitae of saint-bishops) usually stressed that their subject was sparing in his consumption of food and drink, and that he fasted often. Conversely, hostile commentators typically claimed that their targets had a tendency to overindulgence and gluttony. It will be argued that such attitudes are best understood as a consequence of the perceived links between the consumption of food and drink and the clergyman’s masculinity and sexuality. It will therefore explain why gluttony was thought to be such a serious failing in a medieval bishop.

Location: Institute of Historical Research

Event Date: Jul 13, 2013

Organization: Food in History: Anglo-American Conference 2013

One of three papers in a session entitled Making Sinners, Making Saints in Late Medieval England. Session abstract: The boundary between the secular and the ecclesiastical was a fluid one in the la... more abstractOne of three papers in a session entitled Making Sinners, Making Saints in Late Medieval England. Session abstract: The boundary between the secular and the ecclesiastical was a fluid one in the late Middle Ages. This was true in legal terms but is also reflected in ritual and in literature. This session examines the many ways in which these limits were negotiated and re-negotiated in the late Middle Ages in all levels of society and how societal attitudes towards Church and State influenced and were influenced by these shifts. To do so it focuses upon the diocese and city of Lincoln.

Location: Leeds International Medieval Congress 2013

Event Date: Jul 3, 2013

Organization: One of three papers in a session entitled Making Sinners, Making Saints in Late Medieval England

Time: 7 PM to 8 PM

Location: Institute of Historical Research

Event Date: Jan 29, 2013

Organization: London Society for Medieval Studies

This paper considers the role of weeping in the life of the medieval bishops. Focusing on the English bishops of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, it will draw on a wide range of sources, especially the vitae of fo... more abstractThis paper considers the role of weeping in the life of the medieval bishops. Focusing on the English bishops of the twelfth to fourteenth centuries, it will draw on a wide range of sources, especially the vitae of four English saint-bishops of this period (Thomas Becket, Hugh of Lincoln, Edmund of Abingdon and Richard Wyche) in order to answer questions such as: When, and for what reasons, was a bishop permitted (or indeed, expected) to weep? Were there times when it was considered inappropriate for him to shed tears? What was the impact of episcopal tears, both on those who observed them and on the bishop himself? Was weeping thought to have any effect on the physical and spiritual health of the bishop? How were the bishop’s tears related to medieval theories about the body? The paper will also examine the tears of others at two crucial stages of the episcopal life-cycle: the election of the bishop, and his death. Why did monks weep as they elected a new bishop? And how far was weeping considered an appropriate response to the serious illness and death of a medieval prelate? The paper will place the question of episcopal weeping within the context of the existing historiography on medieval emotions, asking in particular whether we should view such manifestations of emotion as sincere or staged.

Event Date: Sep 10, 2012

Organization: Society for the Social History of Medicine Conference 2012

Conference End Date: Sep 12, 2012

Conference Start Date: Sep 10, 2012

This paper considers the final stages of the bishop-making process: the bishop’s entry into his city, and his enthronement in his cathedral. It describes the key features of these celebrations as they were experienced... more abstractThis paper considers the final stages of the bishop-making process: the bishop’s entry into his city, and his enthronement in his cathedral. It describes the key features of these celebrations as they were experienced in fourteenth-century England. What happened, where and when? Who attended, and what were their roles? It also considers the significance of the bishop’s arrival, addressing questions such as: how did it relate to the appointment process as a whole? How did it shape, and reflect, the new bishop’s relationship with his diocese, and with the kingdom? What image of episcopacy was presented? What was the relationship between the first entry of the bishop and other adventus rituals?

Time: 4 PM to 6 PM

More Info: One of three papers in a session entitled 'Power and Beginnings in Later Medieval England.'

Event Date: Jul 9, 2012

Organization: Society for 14th-Century Studies, Leeds International Medieval Congress 2012

Given the great ecclesiastical and secular power of the bishop in medieval society, it is unsurprising that medieval monarchs took a keen interest in the identities of the men appointed to the bishoprics within their ... more abstractGiven the great ecclesiastical and secular power of the bishop in medieval society, it is unsurprising that medieval monarchs took a keen interest in the identities of the men appointed to the bishoprics within their kingdoms. This paper examines the role played by English and Scottish monarchs in episcopal appointments during the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, the period in which papal provision replaced capitular election as the primary means of appointment. In doing so, it will answer questions such as: What made an individual suitable (or unsuitable) for promotion to the episcopate in the eyes of his king? How did kings (and queens consort) attempt to influence the choices made by cathedral chapters? How did they respond to the rise of papal provision, and how did they ensure that their influence continued to be felt? How did monarchs respond when they were unable to secure the appointment of their candidate? How far were the attitudes and approaches of the kings of England and Scotland the same, and how far were they different? Did the kings of each country interfere in the appointments of the other realm? The paper will thus shed light on the relationship between church and state in late medieval Britain.

Location: Kings and Queens Conference, Bath Spa University

Event Date: Apr 20, 2012

Organization: Kings and Queens Conference, Bath Spa University

Event Date: Oct 27, 2011

Organization: London Cultural Connections session at the KCL Arts and Humanities Festival 2011

Time: 11 AM to 1 PM

Location: KCL-York-UEA Annual Postgraduate Medieval Conference 2011

Event Date: Jul 23, 2011

Organization: KCL-York-UEA Annual Postgraduate Medieval Conference 2011

Conference End Date: Jul 24, 2011

Conference Start Date: Jul 22, 2011

The making of a bishop was a costly business, involving a great deal of expenditure. This paper presents an overview of the costs involved, focusing first on legitimate financial transactions (such as travel expenses ... more abstractThe making of a bishop was a costly business, involving a great deal of expenditure. This paper presents an overview of the costs involved, focusing first on legitimate financial transactions (such as travel expenses and the payments of customary dues) and the practice of gift-giving. It then considers the potential for illicit financial transactions, amounting to simony, a crime which would-be bishops were frequently accused of. Why were such allegations made? Was there any truth in these stories of simony? How far did electoral expenditure (both legitimate and illegitimate) influence the course of elections? And was it possible to buy a bishopric?

Time: 4 PM to 6 PM

Location: International Medieval Congress 2011, Leeds

More Info: One of three papers in a session entitled Silver, Simony and Sermons: The Ideal and Reality of Wealth in the Reign of Henry III

Event Date: Jul 12, 2011

In this paper, I shall look at networks within the medieval English episcopate, from the late twelfth to early fourteenth centuries. Based on an analysis of the lives and careers of over two hundred bishops, this pape... more abstractIn this paper, I shall look at networks within the medieval English episcopate, from the late twelfth to early fourteenth centuries. Based on an analysis of the lives and careers of over two hundred bishops, this paper will outline the difficulties of exploring networks in a medieval context, before demonstrating the great value of such studies. By uncovering the many connections between this group of bishops, it will reveal that they shared far more than a place amongst the upper echelons of the English clergy. Many were kinsmen- fathers and sons, uncles and nephews, brothers and cousins. Others were linked by educational networks, having studied at the same university or under the same masters. Shared geographical origins, career paths or membership of religious orders also created ties between prelates. Having indentified the nature of the networks within the episcopate, I will then consider their significance, looking especially at the importance of such networks within the context of episcopal appointments. What role did they play in determining the identity of the new bishop? Did some connections have more value than others? Was it possible to obtain a bishopric if one lacked such connections? Could some associations actually prove detrimental to one’s episcopal ambitions? And did the worth of these networks decline in the early fourteenth century, as papal provision replaced episcopal election, and bishops were increasingly made not in English cathedral chapters, but at the papal curia in Avignon?

Location: Institute of Historical Research, London

Event Date: Jun 2011

Organization: Networks: History Lab Conference 2011

Conference End Date: Jun 23, 2011

Conference Start Date: Jun 22, 2011

This paper considers the uses of knowledge within the context of episcopal elections, drawing on case studies from thirteenth-century England. The right of cathedral chapters to hold free elections was well-establishe... more abstractThis paper considers the uses of knowledge within the context of episcopal elections, drawing on case studies from thirteenth-century England. The right of cathedral chapters to hold free elections was well-established by the early thirteenth century, but being chosen by one’s fellow monks or canons was only the first hurdle on the road to the episcopate. A bishop-elect, and the procedure by which he had been elected, had to satisfy the ecclesiastical authorities if the appointment was be confirmed. In addition, it was necessary to secure royal assent to the chapter’s choice, and to ensure that the king (or, indeed, any other part) would not make an appeal to the papal curia. As a consequence of the existence of this complex system, knowledge of the canon law relating to electoral procedure and the qualities required of a bishop was an extremely potent tool. Cathedral chapters needed to be well-informed, in order that they might hold watertight elections which would withstand (often hostile) scrutiny; archbishops were required to have a good understanding of the relevant canon law, in order that they might uphold standards; kings exploited their knowledge of canonical requirements as a basis for effective opposition to unsuitable or undesirable would-be bishops. This paper outlines the sources of electoral knowledge on which those involved drew, amongst them canon law, canon lawyers, and tracts on episcopal elections. It then examines the different ways in which this knowledge was used and exploited by the various participants in the electoral process. Episcopal elections were important touchstones of church-state relations during the medieval period; consequently, this paper illuminates both secular and ecclesiastical uses of legal knowledge, and the ways in which this knowledge was used in disputes between the two spheres.

Time: 11 AM to 1 PM

Event Date: Jun 6, 2011

Organization: Education and Ignorance: The Use of Knowledge in the Medieval World c.550-1550. (The University of Manchester Medieval Postgraduate Conference)

Conference End Date: Jun 7, 2011

Conference Start Date: Jun 6, 2011

Time: 6 PM to 8 PM

Location: King's College London History

Event Date: Mar 24, 2011

Time: 5 PM to 7 PM

Location: Medieval Church and Culture Seminar, Harris Manchester College, Oxford

Event Date: Oct 26, 2010

Time: 5 PM to 7 PM

Location: Late Medieval Seminar, Institute of Historical Research, London

Event Date: Nov 5, 2010

Time: 9 AM to 11 AM

Location: International Medieval Congress, Leeds

More Info: One of three papers in a session on 'The Model Bishop in 13th Century England'

Event Date: Jul 14, 2010

Conference End Date: Jul 15, 2010

Conference Start Date: Jul 12, 2010

Location: Earlier Middle Ages Seminar, Institute of Historical Research, London

Event Date: Jan 20, 2010

Papacy (Medieval Church History), Queenship (Medieval History), Kingship (Medieval History), Medieval Canon Law, and Medieval Love and Marriage

More Info: http://centreformedicalhumanities.org/the-metamorphoses-of-fat-a-history-of-obesity-reviewed-by-dr-katherine-harvey/

Publication Date: Feb 2014

Publication Name: Centre for Medical Humanities

Publication Date: 2013

Publication Name: Reviews in History

Review of John Guy, Thomas Becket: Warrior, Priest, Rebel, Victim (Penguin, 2012)

More Info: Times Literary Supplement, 20 April 2012

Feature of the Month for the Magna Carta Project, on King John's Freedom of Election Charter (2014)

Medieval Church History, Ecclesiastical History, and King John of England

Publication Date: Aug 2014

More Info: http://notchesblog.com/

More Info: http://magnacartaresearch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/an-un-christian-king-king-john-and.html