payment page
Carthusian
Part of the monastic revival movement of the 1100s. Bernard of Clairvaux was one.
Cathari
Heretical movement coming first from Anatolia and then Bulgaria. Manicheans seeing the Catholic Church as the incarnation of the Devils' rule. Also called Albigensians, focused in Languedoc.
Cluny
In Burgundy, earnest monastics convinced William the Pious of Aquitane to found the Cluny monastery around 910. It was endowed generously from the start, so that it would not be dependent on secular rulers. Additional gifts of land or provisions would not be in return for feudal services, but would be recompensed by the monks' prayers. The monks received the right to elect their own abbot, putting the position beyond lay interference. Cluny's founders tried to eliminate any potentially idle time by instituting heavy schedules of communal liturgical prayer services, in addition to fieldwork and manuscript reproduction. Cluniac monks attained a high level of sustainable piety and discipline throughout the 10th century and into the 11th century.
Constitution of Melfi
Frederick II's new code of Law for Sicily. The king's total authority as legislator and adjudicator was underscored. Nobles saw prerogatives limited, and all major cases were assigned to royal courts. Sicily was administratively divided into provinces, and local officials were supervised by the central government. To encourage trade, customs duties were decreased.
Curia
Papal cabinet of sorts, invigorated under Urban II to help him centrally administrate Church.
Enqueteurs
Agents of Philip Augustus sent to monitor local officials.
Fursten
Princes set up German monarchs to help in urban administration and sidestep nobles. Became nobles.
Iconoclasm
Campaign in Eastern Church started by Leo III to end the use of pictorial representations of Christ, Mary, etc., in prayer. Repealed and re-enacted throughout 8th and 9th centuries.
Kingdom of Asturias
Small kingdom in northern Spain. Christian, emerges in 700s.
Theme
Military district in Anatolia. From Heraclius onwards, commander combined administrative and military roles, with a peasant-soldier population.
