The Social World of the Abbey of Cava, c. 1020-1300

A comprehensive investigation into the Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, from its founding to the thirteenth century. It examines the growth of the congregation, property, and social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno, as well as the problem of forgery.

Format: Hardback
Length: 456 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2021
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, has been a continuous presence since its foundation almost exactly a thousand years ago. From its modest beginnings, it developed during the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in southern Italy. This path-breaking study, based on many years of research into the largely unpublished charters of Cava, begins by examining the growth of the abbey's congregation and property and its subsequent struggle to defend its interests during the troubled thirteenth century. But, in addition, it uses the extensive evidence available to study its benefactors and dependents, administration and economy, and through this material to analyze the social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno. There is also a re-evaluation of the problem of forgery, practiced on a large scale at Cava during the thirteenth century, a factor that has complicated and discouraged previous study of this important institution. A major advance both in the study of the south Italian Church and of the medieval Mezzogiorno during the central Middle Ages, the volume presents a vivid and detailed picture of local society and its workings, and of the families and individuals who had dealings with the abbey.

The Benedictine abbey of Holy Trinity, Cava, has been a continuous presence since its foundation almost exactly a thousand years ago. From its modest beginnings, it developed during the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in southern Italy. This path-breaking study, based on many years of research into the largely unpublished charters of Cava, begins by examining the growth of the abbey's congregation and property and its subsequent struggle to defend its interests during the troubled thirteenth century. But, in addition, it uses the extensive evidence available to study its benefactors and dependents, administration and economy, and through this material to analyze the social and economic structures of the principality of Salerno. There is also a re-evaluation of the problem of forgery, practiced on a large scale at Cava during the thirteenth century, a factor that has complicated and discouraged previous study of this important institution. A major advance both in the study of the south Italian Church and of the medieval Mezzogiorno during the central Middle Ages, the volume presents a vivid and detailed picture of local society and its workings, and of the families and individuals who had dealings with the abbey.

Weight: 822g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276325