Scopo di questo libro è esplorare le trasformazioni nei funzionamenti del potere nelle campagne del regno d’Italia lungo il cinquantennio a cavallo del 1100, e più in particolare il processo di affermazione e di cristallizzazione della signoria rurale. L’indagine si sviluppa attraverso la ricostruzione non solo delle strutture del potere sugli uomini e sullo spazio, e delle connesse morfologie sociali, ma anche del sistema di comunicazione politica a livello locale. Lo scoppio delle guerre civili connesse con la “lotta per le Investiture”, dopo il 1080, si traduce infatti in una netta riconfigurazione della matrice socio-politica, con trasformazione sia delle pratiche del potere locale, sia degli strumenti della comunicazione politica e della relativa documentazione. Il caso italiano offre in questo senso una nuova prospettiva sul grande problema storiografico, ancora aperto, della “rivoluzione feudale” nel contesto europeo.
This chapter deals with violence. It includes some graphic accounts of seigneurial violence. These should not be treated superficially as ‘historiographical voyeurism’ but rather considered as manifestations of the ritualistic nature of violence and assessed with regard to their impact in collective local memory. Texts reveal violence to be on the increase in the eleventh century. Also the nicknames of the lords offers a vivid testimony of their attitude toward violence. It often took on a ritual character and was designed to overawe, intimidate, and impose social superiority. Beatings, torture, torching, and rape became part of everyday experience of Italian peasantry from the late eleventh century. Other examples of seigneurial violence over small towns, such as the Frangipane in Terracina, and imperial representatives in Piacenza and Treviso follow.
The chapter marks the beginning of the second part of the book, dedicated to the discourses, languages and cultures of power in the territorial lordship. Symbolic and actual power of royal/imperial diplomas and judicial hearings (placita) remained strong in the tenth century. However the latter almost ceased completely by c.1100 and the former had dwindled considerably in number and importance by the time of emperor Lothar III (1133–7). Local actors had found new ways to acquire legitimization for the actions and transactions. This process was characterized not only by a sharp change of social practices but also by a transformation in documentary production.
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