Bishops, Priests and Ecclesiastical Discipline in Tenth and Eleventh-Century Lotharingia

This article examines how tenth and eleventh-century bishops imposed ecclesiastical discipline on their priests after the waves of Carolingian episcopal statutes had ceased. It uses the manuscript Troyes, Médiathèque Jacques-Chirac, Ms 1979 as an example of an episcopal manual with which bishops could impose and maintain ecclesiastical discipline in their diocese via the organisation of local synods, holding a court and visitation. The manuscript in question contains material to support the bishops in these tasks and demonstrates how these institutions were shaped by the ideals of their Carolingian predecessors. The article starts with an analysis of the composition of the manuscript and then goes on to explore how it could have been used for the instruction and examination of priests during diocesan synods. Finally, it examines a collection of canones in the manuscript, also known as the ‘Collectio 234 capitulorum’, as a means to establish ecclesiastical discipline by monitoring behaviour and administering justice via visitation and holding a court. A description of Troyes, Médiathèque Jacques-Chirac, Ms 1979’s content and codicological composition as well as the material comprising the ‘Collectio 234 capitulorum’ have been added as appendices.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Bishops, Priests and Ecclesiastical Discipline in Tenth and Eleventh-Century Lotharingia ; volume:57 ; number:1 ; year:2023 ; pages:315-346 ; extent:32 ; Frühmittelalterliche Studien ; 57, Heft 1 (2023), 315-346 (gesamt 32)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Waagmeester, Bastiaan

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/fmst-2023-0018
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023101814040838284698
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 11:04 AM CEST