The Edictum Rothari presents a useful window on the mechanics of Kingship and Law in Lombard Italy. Whilst those who conspire against the life of the king shall be killed, those who, on the contrary, receive advice to kill another... more
The Edictum Rothari presents a useful window on the mechanics of
Kingship and Law in Lombard Italy. Whilst those who conspire against the
life of the king shall be killed, those who, on the contrary, receive advice
to kill another third party from the king ‘shall not suffer any payment or
trouble’ for ‘the heart of the king is in the hand of God’. Violence at the
heart of the Lombard kingdom is a recurrent theme throughout its’ exist-
ence. This need not, however, colour perceptions of Lombard geo-politics
since endemic competition for power and control is equally noticeable in
comparable so-called ‘successor’ kingdoms. Using narrative and normative texts this chapter will consider the role of violence in Lombard society.
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A few documents of the Lombard Period (7th–8th centuries) mention specific lands known as case tributarie. Some of these were part of the Curtis Regia (i. e. the Fiscus), while others may have been owned by private individuals. All of... more
A few documents of the Lombard Period (7th–8th centuries) mention specific lands known as case tributarie. Some of these were part of the Curtis Regia (i. e. the Fiscus), while others may have been owned by private individuals. All of them disappeared after the dissolution of the Lombard Kingdom. Their features have never been examined in depth: the case tributarie are generally considered an equivalent of the case massaricie, i. e. centres of agricultural production managed by tenant farmers. This hypothesis is in agreement with the most recent conclusions of scholars, who rule out the existence of general taxation in the Lombard Kingdom; however, the sources seem to suggest a different framework. By analysing these sources, we can access information of help in interpreting both the functions and the main features of the case tributarie, and in indicating some peculiar features of the Lombard administration. To achieve this aim, we first introduce the few surviving documents mentioning the case tributarie and analyse some of their principal features and problems. We then discuss the historiographical interpretations hitherto proposed. Finally, we suggest a different model, and its application to a specific case study.
Books on the regnum of the Lombards are not common in English. Here is a review of a new and important work which considers the pivotal first century of Lombard rule in the peninsula.
The article discusses Liutprand’s ideas on royal authority and duties as expressed in his laws and charters, comparing them to the ideology of his predecessors and successors
Lombard laws were issued between 643 and 755. They comprise in toto an invaluable normative source for the Lombard kingdom and society in the seventh and eighth centuries. Commentators have concentrated upon the witness that the laws... more
Lombard laws were issued between 643 and 755. They comprise in toto an invaluable normative source for the Lombard kingdom and society in the seventh and eighth centuries. Commentators have concentrated upon the witness that the laws comprise for the ability of Lombard kings to rule, control and influence society. This paper, however, will consider aspects of both movement and mobility through and across the kingdom using the prism provided by the law with regard to fugitives, runaway slaves and strangers. What does the law tell us about the conceptual parameters associated with those who composed and compiled Lombard law? How did the Lombard kingdom respond to movement and mobility? What do prescriptions which relate to frontiers reveal about the broader interconnectivity of the Mediterranean world? In addressing these issues, and in considering the broader connotations revealed, this paper will argue for a deeper mobility in the early medieval West.
Si può applicare il concetto di "violenza economica" alla condizione femminile dei secoli medievali? A partire da questa domanda, con un percorso che esplora la documentazione dai primi agli ultimi secoli del Medioevo, il saggio esamina i... more
Si può applicare il concetto di "violenza economica" alla condizione femminile dei secoli medievali? A partire da questa domanda, con un percorso che esplora la documentazione dai primi agli ultimi secoli del Medioevo, il saggio esamina i potenziali pericoli cui era soggetta la capacità patrimoniale femminile e gli accorgimenti, giuridici in primo luogo, ma non solo, che furono impiegati per tutelarla.
Estudio de la posible incidencia del Estado en el desarrollo del gran comercio marítimo tardoantiguo entre los años 569 y 732 en el Mediterráneo occidental. Se trata de analizar los diferentes tipos de intervenciones de las autoridades... more
Estudio de la posible incidencia del Estado en el desarrollo del gran comercio marítimo tardoantiguo entre los años 569 y 732 en el Mediterráneo occidental. Se trata de analizar los diferentes tipos de intervenciones de las autoridades públicas, desde la legislación hasta las relaciones internacionales o las campañas militares, y pasando por el control de las fronteras y los mares, su motivación, puesta en práctica y posible impacto sobre el comercio interestatal, su naturaleza y evolución. La primera parte del trabajo se centra en la legislación y en las instituciones que enmarcan el comercio marítimo entre estados, la segunda trata de las políticas militares y comerciales y, sobre todo, las funciones de control y físcales de las aduanas y de los controles fronterizos y portuarios. En esta investigación se han intentado aunar las referencias recopiladas a partir de la legislación a otros tipos de fuentes, especialmente narrativas y, sobre todo, hagiográficas contrastándolas con los modelos teóricos propuestos en las investigaciones previas y con la evidencia del comercio que proporciona la arqueología
