As relações entre as esferas laicas e eclesiásticas na aristocracia da Nortúmbria no século VIII

Abstract

This article analyses the relations between the lay and the clerical aristocratic worlds in Anglo-Saxon England during the long eighth century. The main hypothesis of this article is that these two groups can and must be addressed as part of the same social class, the ruling class: the aristocracy. In order to test this hypothesis, the article will address how medievalism in the 20^th century has studied the clerical sector. This will point out to the progressive detachment of the clergy from the lay world in terms of academic analysis. In order to prove the intimate link between lay and clerical world, two case studies will be presented. These two case studies will address the foundation and ruling of monasteries in Northumbria. The case studies are the monastery of the Wearmouth monastery, and the famous Bede’s letter to the bishop Ecgberth.