Medieval Self-Coronations: The History and Symbolism of a Ritual

Description

Based on narrative, iconographical, and liturgical sources, this is the first systematic study to trace the story of the ritual of royal self-coronations from Ancient Persia to the present. Exposing as myth the idea that Napoleon's act of self-coronation in 1804 was the first extraordinary event to break the secular tradition of kings being crowned by bishops, Jaume Aurell vividly demonstrates that self-coronations were not as transgressive or unconventional as has been imagined. Drawing on numerous examples of royal self-coronations, with a particular focus on European Kings of the Middle Ages, including Frederic II of Germany (1229), Alphonse XI of Castile (1328), Peter IV of Aragon (1332) and Charles III of Navarra (1390), Aurell draws on history, anthropology, ritual studies, liturgy and art history to explore royal self-coronations as privileged sites at which the frontiers and limits between the temporal and spiritual, politics and religion, tradition and innovation are encountered. Cover Medieval Self-Coronations Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Acknowledgements Introduction 1 - Self-Coronation As Ritual Part I - Heritage 2 - Consecration without Mediation in Antiquity 3 - The Hand of God 4 - Symbolic Self-Coronations in Byzantium 5 - The Sacralisation of Carolingian Accessions 6 - Anglo-Saxon and Ottonian Christocentrism Part II - Infamy 7 - Roger II of Sicily 8 - Frederick II of Germany Part III - Convention 9 - Alfonso XI of Castile 10 - Peter IV of Aragon’s Self-Coronation 11 - Charles III of Navarra 12 - Early Modern Dramatisation Conclusion Index