Mayke de Jong Boeken

Focusing on the reign of Emperor Louis the Pious, this evaluation delves into the significant event of his public penance in 833. It explores the political and religious implications of this act, shedding light on Louis' struggles as a ruler and the challenges he faced in maintaining authority over his empire. The analysis provides insights into the complexities of his leadership and the impact of his decisions on the Carolingian dynasty and medieval Europe.

The 19 papers presented in this volume by North American and European historians and archaeologists discuss how early medieval political and religious elites constructed 'places of power', and how such places, in turn, created powerful people. They also examine how the 'high-level' power exercised by elites was transformed in the post-Roman kingdoms of Europe, as Roman cities gave way as central stages for rituals of power to a multitude of places and spaces where political and religious power were represented. Although the Frankish kingdoms receive a large share of attention, contributions also focus on the changing topography of power in the old centres of the Roman world, Rome and Constantinople, to what 'centres of power' may have meant in the steppes of Inner Asia, Scandinavia or the lower Vistula, where political power was even more mobile and decentralised than in the post-Roman kingdoms, as well as to monasteries and their integration into early medieval topographies of power.

The book delves into the reign of Emperor Louis the Pious, focusing on the significant event of his public penance in 833. It analyzes the political and religious implications of this act, exploring how it reflects Louis' struggles with authority and his relationships with the church and his subjects. Through this lens, the evaluation offers insights into the complexities of leadership and the challenges faced by Louis during a transformative period in history.

Epitaph for an Era is the first major study of the Epitaphium Arsenii, a polemical dialogue defending the courtier Wala's revolt in 830-833 against Emperor Louis the Pious. Mayke de Jong explores the impact of these controversial rebellions on the ideals and values of the Frankish leadership in the next generation.