| dc.description.abstract | This study takes as its theme the relationship of the
English and French kings and the religious orders, c.1130-1270,
Patronage in general is a field relatively neglected in the rich
literature on the monastic life, and royal patronage has never
before been traced over a broad period for both France and England.
The chief concern here is with royal favour shown towards the
various orders of monks and friars, in the foundations and donations
made by the kings. This is put in the context of monastic patronage
set in a wider field, and of the charters and pensions which are part
of its formal expression. The monastic foundations and the general
pattern of royal donations to different orders are discussed in some
detail in the core of the work; the material is divided roughly
according to the reigns of the kings. Evidence from chronicles and
the physical remains of buildings is drawn upon as well as collections
of charters and royal financial documents. The personalities and
attitudes of the monarchs towards the religious hierarchy, the way
in which monastic patronage reflects their political interests, and
the contrasts between English and French patterns of patronage are
all analysed, and the development of the royal monastic mausoleum in
Western Europe is discussed as a special case of monastic patronage.
A comparison is attempted of royal and non-royal foundations based on
a statistical analysis. The siting and architectural style of royal
monasteries, the political implications of monastic patronage, and
the extent to which royal patronage affected religious orders are
also examined; finally there is a brief treatment of royal patronage
after c.1270. Transcripts of imprinted charters and photographs of
royal monasteries are included as pièces justificatives. | en_US |
