Description: The bishoprics that emerged in the town of Orvieto in Umbria in the 12th century became an important institution for accessing and reforming political and ecclesiastical power.
Brief description:
David Foote is assistant professor of history at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Review Quotes:
"This elegant book explores a crucial and under-studied problem: the role of episcopal administration in the formation of the Italian city-states. It is a fascinating account of the changing interplay of secular and spiritual power. The bishopric developed systems to collect revenues, exact justice, inventory property, and maintain records that were largely appropriated by the rising commune. The consequences for the bishopric were both political marginalization and also a new freedom to attend to reform and the care of souls." --Carol Lansing, University of California, Santa Barbara