Jill Mann
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199217687
- eISBN:
- 9780191712371
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199217687.003.0004
- Subject:
- Literature, Early and Medieval Literature, European Literature
Moving from beast fable to beast epic, this chapter discusses the Speculum stultorum (late twelfth century), written by Nigel of Longchamp, a monk of Canterbury, and dedicated to William of ...
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Moving from beast fable to beast epic, this chapter discusses the Speculum stultorum (late twelfth century), written by Nigel of Longchamp, a monk of Canterbury, and dedicated to William of Longchamp, the chancellor of Richard I. The narrative kernel of this poem, which relates how the foolish attempts of the donkey Burnellus to acquire a longer tail lead only to disaster, resembles those beast fables in which animals vainly try to exceed the bounds set for them by Nature. But the lengthy rhetorical elaborations and narrative interpolations which swell the poem to epic length also turn it into a comic celebration of the sheer redundancy of human language. These elaborations also give room for satiric passages which reflect the contemporary concerns of the Canterbury monks, in which William of Longchamp was also involved.Less
Moving from beast fable to beast epic, this chapter discusses the Speculum stultorum (late twelfth century), written by Nigel of Longchamp, a monk of Canterbury, and dedicated to William of Longchamp, the chancellor of Richard I. The narrative kernel of this poem, which relates how the foolish attempts of the donkey Burnellus to acquire a longer tail lead only to disaster, resembles those beast fables in which animals vainly try to exceed the bounds set for them by Nature. But the lengthy rhetorical elaborations and narrative interpolations which swell the poem to epic length also turn it into a comic celebration of the sheer redundancy of human language. These elaborations also give room for satiric passages which reflect the contemporary concerns of the Canterbury monks, in which William of Longchamp was also involved.
Sean L. Field
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9781501736193
- eISBN:
- 9781501736209
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9781501736193.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
The emergent reputation for sanctity of Isabelle of France (sister of Louis IX) was central to the development of larger Capetian claims to enjoy a unique favour in the eyes of God. Around 1260, ...
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The emergent reputation for sanctity of Isabelle of France (sister of Louis IX) was central to the development of larger Capetian claims to enjoy a unique favour in the eyes of God. Around 1260, Isabelle was the spiritual star of the court, as reflected in a series of texts written by bishops, friars such as Thomas of Cantimpré and Guibert of Tournai, and popes Innocent IV and Alexander IV. In the last decade of her life, however, her saintly reputation faded due to her refusal to become a nun and to her battles with the Franciscan Order over the rule for her abbey of Longchamp.Less
The emergent reputation for sanctity of Isabelle of France (sister of Louis IX) was central to the development of larger Capetian claims to enjoy a unique favour in the eyes of God. Around 1260, Isabelle was the spiritual star of the court, as reflected in a series of texts written by bishops, friars such as Thomas of Cantimpré and Guibert of Tournai, and popes Innocent IV and Alexander IV. In the last decade of her life, however, her saintly reputation faded due to her refusal to become a nun and to her battles with the Franciscan Order over the rule for her abbey of Longchamp.
Jean Flori and Olive Classe
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780748622955
- eISBN:
- 9780748651382
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Discontinued
- DOI:
- 10.3366/edinburgh/9780748622955.003.0009
- Subject:
- History, Economic History
The Archbishop of Rouen, Walter of Coutances, was ostensibly charged by Richard I to work with William Longchamp, but really he was to keep an eye on him. Eleanor of Aquitaine's role as regent, ...
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The Archbishop of Rouen, Walter of Coutances, was ostensibly charged by Richard I to work with William Longchamp, but really he was to keep an eye on him. Eleanor of Aquitaine's role as regent, assisted by Walter, now became even more important than before. This chapter notes in passing, though, that she had to have a man beside her, first William Longchamp and then Walter of Coutances, able to take decisions and enforce them. It was unthinkable at that time that government should be entrusted ‘officially’ to a queen, even one of Eleanor's character and quality. The chapter also argues that while suspicious of John, Eleanor sought first and foremost to preserve the dynastic heritage for her sons and to prevent King Arthur from becoming a candidate for the succession should Richard I not beget an heir. The events described here, then, foreshadow to a certain extent those that followed the King's death some years later.Less
The Archbishop of Rouen, Walter of Coutances, was ostensibly charged by Richard I to work with William Longchamp, but really he was to keep an eye on him. Eleanor of Aquitaine's role as regent, assisted by Walter, now became even more important than before. This chapter notes in passing, though, that she had to have a man beside her, first William Longchamp and then Walter of Coutances, able to take decisions and enforce them. It was unthinkable at that time that government should be entrusted ‘officially’ to a queen, even one of Eleanor's character and quality. The chapter also argues that while suspicious of John, Eleanor sought first and foremost to preserve the dynastic heritage for her sons and to prevent King Arthur from becoming a candidate for the succession should Richard I not beget an heir. The events described here, then, foreshadow to a certain extent those that followed the King's death some years later.
Michael Staunton
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- July 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198769965
- eISBN:
- 9780191822742
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198769965.003.0015
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Medieval History, Historiography
This chapter examines church and government in Angevin England, and especially the representation of those who held leading positions in both. The first subject is the shadow cast by the figure of ...
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This chapter examines church and government in Angevin England, and especially the representation of those who held leading positions in both. The first subject is the shadow cast by the figure of Thomas Becket over later ecclesiastical matters and their representation. Although the Becket dispute itself is not prominent in these histories, churchmen of the last quarter of the century were often judged in comparison to Becket. The rest of the chapter concentrates on the career of William Longchamp, bishop of Ely, papal legate, and royal chancellor. The extraordinary invectives against Longchamp written by contemporaries reflect the real hostility that he provoked, but also the emergence of negative depictions of men in government, drawn from recent history but also from imperial Rome.Less
This chapter examines church and government in Angevin England, and especially the representation of those who held leading positions in both. The first subject is the shadow cast by the figure of Thomas Becket over later ecclesiastical matters and their representation. Although the Becket dispute itself is not prominent in these histories, churchmen of the last quarter of the century were often judged in comparison to Becket. The rest of the chapter concentrates on the career of William Longchamp, bishop of Ely, papal legate, and royal chancellor. The extraordinary invectives against Longchamp written by contemporaries reflect the real hostility that he provoked, but also the emergence of negative depictions of men in government, drawn from recent history but also from imperial Rome.
