Linda Tollerton

Wills and Will-Making in Anglo-Saxon England (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

A study of the implications and practices of wills and will-making in Anglo-Saxon society, and of the varieties of inheritance strategies and commemorative arrangements adopted.

A remarkable series of Anglo-Saxon wills have survived, spanning the period from the beginning of the ninth century to the years immediately following the Norman Conquest. Written in Old English, they reflect the significance of the vernacular, not only in royal administration during this period, but in the recording of a range of individual transactions. They show wealthy laymen and women, and clerics, from kings and bishops to those of thegnly status, disposing of land and chattels, and recognising ties of kinship, friendship, lordship and service through their bequests; and whilst land is of prime importance, the mention in some wills of such valuable items as tableware, furnishings, clothing, jewellery and weapons provides an insight into lifestyle at the time.
Despite their importance, no study has hitherto been specifically devoted to Anglo-Saxon wills in their social and historical context, a gap which this book aims to fill. While the wills themselves can be vague and allusive, by establishing patterns of bequeathing, and by drawing on other resources, the author sheds light on the factors which influenced men and womenin making appropriate provision for their property.

Linda Tollerton gained her PhD from the University of York.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wits University Press
• Seitenzahl: 346
• Erscheinungstermin: 15. September 2011
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781846158513
• Artikelnr.: 68263969

Autorenporträt

Linda Tollerton

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction Anglo-Saxon written wills: the nature of the evidence The
process of will-making Politics, power and the bequest of land Lay bequest
of land: pious gifts and family strategy The bequest of movable wealth
Wills, commemoration and lay piety Conclusion: Why make a written will in
Anglo-Saxon England? Appendix 1: The corpus of Anglo-Saxon wills Appendix
2: The evidence for wills and will-making in the Liber Eliensis and
Chronicon Rameseiensis Appendix 3: The bequest of movable wealth Appendix
4: Local churches mentioned in wills Appendix 5: Note on unpublished
material by Patrick Wormald Bibliography