Subproject B8
Staging of the Political Decision-Making Process in the Middle Ages
Department and Research Field: History of the High and Late Middle Ages, Cultural History and Religious Science
Subproject Management
Prof. Dr. Bernd Schneidmüllerbernd.schneidmueller@zegk.uni-heidelberg.de
Department of History
New University, South WingGrabengasse 3-5
69117 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 - (0) 6221 - 54 24 41
Fax: +49 - (0) 6221 - 54 22 67
Prof. Dr. Stefan Weinfurter
Stefan.Weinfurter@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Department of History
New University, South WingGrabengasse 3-5
69117 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 - (0) 6221 - 54 22 93
Fax: +49 - (0) 6221 - 54 24 38
Staff
Andreas Büttner M. A.andreas.buettner@zegk.uni-heidelberg.de
Phone: +49 - (0) 6221 - 54 37 16
Thomas Haas M.A.
resigned Oct 1, 2009
thomas.haas@zegk.uni-heidelberg.de
Andreas Schmidt M.A.
andreas.schmidt@zegk.uni-heidelberg.de
Dr. des. Paul Töbelmann
paul.toebelmann@zegk.uni-heidelberg.de
Phone: +49 - (0) 6221 - 54 37 16
Project Program
formalization
and systemization and on the historic dimension (dynamics of history) of ritual
change, examining the period from the Early Middle Ages to the transition to
European modern times. Furthermore, we will investigate the concurrent
diversity of the respective political shaping.
Subject of
the proposed subproject is the formation of political will and its public
staging in medieval Europe.
The
enhanced geopolitical and socio-cultural spectrum comprises three adjacent and
partially overlapping research areas:
·
the
processes of change in consensus building caused by increased literality and
social differentiation and their public ritualization,
·
the
different functions of coronation and investiture rituals as performative
conclusions to complex personnel decisions, and
·
the
development of new political rituals, negotiated in the free interplay of
social
dynamics to reconcile opposing ambitions for power in the urban
communities
situated in the periphery of the realm.
Longitudinal
studies and comparisons (above all regarding the Empires France and England)
will help us analyze the different development paths and rates, including their
considerable impact on European history.
Firstly, we
will investigate the ritualization of the political decision-making process as
well as its publishing. In particular, we will focus on the performative design
of royal audiences and assemblies of the realm's leading men.
Secondly, we
will research coronation rituals in the flux of desacralization and
juridification in the European context.
Thirdly, we
will study rods as symbols of investiture in liturgy and politics and their use
in the staging of personnel decisions.
Fourthly,
looking at the Milanese ritual of the three Magi in 1336, we will examine the
connection between ritual invention and new political strategies for
persuasion. This topic is set against the background of the modernization wave
in the performative and figurative arts in the early 14th century,
combining historical questions with matters of religious science.
Main Topics
B8.1: Ritualization and semiological depiction of political decision-making in the Middle Ages (Researcher: Gerald Schwedler, M. A.)
B8.2: European coronation rituals in the flux of desacralization and juridification (Researcher: N.N.)
B8.3: "Rods": Symbols of investiture in liturgy and politics and their use in staging personnel decisions (Researcher: Stefan Biessenecker)
B8.4: Ritual ways of consensus building in 14th century urban communities: The Milanese "Ritual of the three Magi" (Researcher: Marion Steinicke)
Inszenierungen politischer Willensbildung
