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State-Building in Medieval France. Studies in Early Angevin History (review)
- Parergon
- Australian and New Zealand Association of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (Inc.)
- Volume 15, Number 2, January 1998
- pp. 289-290
- 10.1353/pgn.1998.0091
- Review
- Additional Information
- Purchase/rental options available:
Short Notices Bachrach, Bernard S., State-Building in Medieval France. Studies in Ea Angevin History (Variorum CoUected Studies Series 486), Aldershot, Variorum, 1995; cloth; pp. x, 324; R.R.P. £49.50. This narrowly focused coUection of articles investigates the rise to power of the stirpes Tortulfi to the rank of counts of Anjou. Each of the contributions is closely based on primary sources. They were originaUy pubUshed between 1976 and 1990. Article I examines the origins of the Angevin dynasty both from the accounts found in the sources and from comparative historiography. The discussion of the relative merits of the claims of Gelgerius, TertuUus and Tortutfus to a place in the early history of the dynasty is clearly set out. SimUarly, the next essay is on the prosopographical techniques of the TeUenbach-Werner method. Its aim is to find a possible fanuly background for Countess Gerberga, wife of Fulk the Good w h o ruled c. 942-60. Article V returns to the prosopographical theme, in this case with regard to the family of Viscount Fulcoius of Angers. The author deftly discusses perceived errors in earUer French scholarship on this issue. Article m is a lengthy study of the French politics of Geoffrey P A R E R G O N ns 15.2 (January 1998) 290 Short Notices Greymantle, the Angevin count w h o ruled from 960-987. Bachrach discusses each separate region of France controUed by this famUy, basing the research in the main on Angevin cartularies. Article IV discusses the northern origins of the Peace movement at Le Puy in 975. It delves into the early functioning of this movement and covers its development over about fifty years. Article VI concentrates on Fulk Nerra and his accession as count of Anjou. The concentration here is on the controversial matter of the precise date at which he became count. Bachrach concludes logically that 986 is correct. Article VIII explores Fulk's exploitations of church wealth around the year 1000 and concludes that such exploitation did take place in a systematic fashion. Article LX returns to the issue of correcting earlier errors regarding enforcement of the forma fidelitatis by Fulk. The article is amply footnoted to the sources, making it a very useful bibliographic tool. Article X looks at a most interesting area: whether Fulk's reign should be regarded as neo-Roman or feudal. Bachrach concludes that this reign can be seen as a combination of Carolingian and Roman, rather than as feudal. This article contains a very useful discussion of the controversy which has raged around any use of the term 'feudal'. Article VII is a short study of the feudal contract in 995-1030 which appears to have aUowed an unusual period of peace in a turbulent age. Article XI complements the preceding one in a study of the Angevin economy as ancient rather than feudal, since Angevin taxation was based primarily on a R o m a n model. Article XII explores King Henry II's claims to the Saintonge, as discussed by the chronicler Thomas of Loches. The index is certainly helpful, but several proper names are omitted or only partially referenced. It should be used with care. Anne Gilmour-Bryson Department of History University of Melbourne ...