Forming Identity and Legitimizing Leadership: Why the 12th-13th Century Narratives about the History of Cathar Groups are Not Pure Polemical Fantasy

ZBÍRAL, David. Forming Identity and Legitimizing Leadership: Why the 12th-13th Century Narratives about the History of Cathar Groups are Not Pure Polemical Fantasy. In International Medieval Congress 2013 : Pleasure, Leeds, 1-4 July 2013. 2013.

Basic information

• Original name: Forming Identity and Legitimizing Leadership: Why the 12th-13th Century Narratives about the History of Cathar Groups are Not Pure Polemical Fantasy
• Authors: ZBÍRAL, David (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: International Medieval Congress 2013 : Pleasure, Leeds, 1-4 July 2013, 2013.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14210/13:00066258
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords in English: Catharism; Cathars; foundation myths; De heresi catharorum; Tractatus de hereticis
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Several texts from the 12th and 13th centuries (Ebervin of Steinfeld's letter to St. Bernard, 1143/1147; De heresi catharorum, 1190/1215; Charter of Niquinta, 1220s?; Tractatus de hereticis, 1250/1280) depict the beginnings of various dissident groups labeled Cathar by some modern scholars. These narratives have been studied mostly as either historical facts or polemical fictions. In this paper, I try to refine this sharp division. In the light of current discussions on the "invention of heresy", and in line with Peter Biller's article "Goodbye to Waldensianism?" (Past and Present, 192, 2006, 3-33), I argue that there are good reasons not to consider these narratives mono-vocal polemical fables, as Jean-Louis Biget has claimed following (and slightly simplifying) Gabriele Zanella's thoughts, but a poly-vocal narrative trying to make sense of Cathar groups also using their own narratives. This view deliberately counters the current deconstructionist trend, eye-opening in many ways but ideological when transformed into a dogma sweeping away what interpretive historical work should continue to be, i.e. the patient and open-minded reading of sources.

Links

• GAP401/12/0657, research and development project: Name: Prameny ke studiu nesouhlasných náboženských hnutí ve středověkém západním křesťanství se zaměřením na katarství

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Sources for the Study of Dissenting Religious Movements in Western Medieval Christianity with Special Focus on Catharism