The Development and Decline of Malediction in the Charters of Anglo-Saxon England
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The Development and Decline of Malediction in the Charters of Anglo-Saxon England by Kasandra Marie Castle A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Centre for Medieval Studies University of Toronto © Copyright by Kasandra Marie Castle, 2016 “The Development and Decline of Malediction in the Charters of Anglo-Saxon England” Kasandra Marie Castle Doctor of Philosophy Centre for Medieval Studies University of Toronto 2016 Thesis Abstract This thesis focuses on the use of maledictory sanction clauses to protect charters, whether written grants of land or privileges, in Anglo-Saxon England. Based on a specially designed and created database of all Anglo-Latin sanction clauses from authentic and substantially authentic single sheets from the ninth to the eleventh century (approximately 171 documents), it traces the formulation of the clause through the pre-Conquest period, revealing lexical, structural, and thematic patterns. Because they were subject to scribal creativity, sanction clauses reflect themes of importance to their draftsmen and run parallel to punitive and infernal concepts emphasized in contemporary works. The thesis begins with a historical overview of medieval cursing and examines each of the elements potentially included in a sanction clause. It then presents data that was collected in a century-by-century arrangement in order to reveal potential patterns. Finally, it looks at the Anglo-Norman Cartulary of Christ Church, Canterbury, extant in three medieval copies. The cartulary’s compiler recasts his source materials, altering them to fit a common mold. This recasting included the addition, deletion, and modification of the sources’ sanction clauses. Such interpretive acts tell us much about the intent of the early English cartularists, the archival ii environment that produced such a compiler, and the perceived function of malediction in the post-Conquest period. This dissertation suggests that sanction clauses dropped from contemporary diplomatic use, not because of a newfound perception of their inefficiency—they were, arguably, fairly inefficient modes of preservation all along—but because of the gradual secularization of the previously highly religious genre. The detail with which formulation of the Anglo-Latin sanction clause is laid out herein sheds further light on its intricacies and provides material for further study of its significance in the broader Anglo-Saxon social context. iii Acknowledgments The research for and writing of this dissertation would not have been possible without the support and guidance of many individuals. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to each of them. To those who served on my committee: Michael Gervers, Joe Goering, and Alain Stoclet, your careful reading of Latin transcriptions, translations, and drafts was invaluable. Thanks are also due to Catherine Cubitt for her incredibly helpful suggestions as external examiner and to Lawrin Armstrong as internal examiner. Thank you to Sébastien Barret, Jenneka Janzen, and Amanda Wetmore for reading drafts simply out of the kindness of their hearts and to Isabelle Cochelin for her tireless administrative support. I would like to extend especial gratitude to my supervisor, Andy Orchard for imparting his knowledge and expertise over the years. This project certainly would not have been possible without his ever-present guidance. Having the help of so many distinguished experts with wide-ranging specialties helped to improve the scope of this project immensely. My thanks also go to my family: my mother, Kristen and partner, Drew. Your love and support sustain me. If any errors remain, quod absit, they are my own. iv Table of Contents Thesis Abstract................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii List of Appendices ......................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1 Methodology ..............................................................................................................................2 Terminology ...............................................................................................................................8 Corpus ........................................................................................................................................9 Database ...................................................................................................................................10 Structure of Thesis ...................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2 Medieval Malediction ...................................................................................................14 Classical Roots .........................................................................................................................14 Ecclesiastical Cursing ..............................................................................................................16 The Benedictine Reform and the Codification of Excommunication ......................................22 Mental Context.........................................................................................................................24 Anglo-Saxon Sanction Clauses ................................................................................................29 Constituent Parts ................................................................................................................30 Protasis .........................................................................................................................32 Spiritual Penalties ........................................................................................................32 Secular Penalties ..........................................................................................................37 Manentem Clause.........................................................................................................40 Penance Clause ............................................................................................................41 Blessings ......................................................................................................................43 v Witness Lists .................................................................................................................... 43 Efficacy of Medieval Cursing ............................................................................................44 Chapter 3 Summary of the Anglo-Saxon Single-Sheet Corpus .....................................................51 The Seventh Century................................................................................................................52 Supplementary Clauses ......................................................................................................54 Protasis ...............................................................................................................................56 Punishment Clause .............................................................................................................57 Spiritual Punishments ..................................................................................................57 The Eighth Century ..................................................................................................................61 Supplementary Clauses ......................................................................................................63 Protasis ...............................................................................................................................65 Punishment Clause .............................................................................................................67 Spiritual Punishments ..................................................................................................67 Secular Punishments ....................................................................................................67 The Ninth Century ...................................................................................................................70 Supplementary Clauses ......................................................................................................73 Protasis ...............................................................................................................................76 Punishment Clause .............................................................................................................79 Spiritual Punishments ..................................................................................................79 Secular Punishments ....................................................................................................82 The Tenth