Penitential exile and ecclesial banishment in Britain and Ireland, a.d. 500 – ca. 800

Thesis

This thesis offers the first comprehensive examination of penitential exile in early medieval Britain and Ireland between 500 and 800. Chapter one lays the foundation by providing an overview of the major types of exile found in the Bible, the chief source upon which Insular clerics drew for their framing of exile. This chapter also provides an explanation of the key questions my dissertation will explore, the texts upon which my study will draw, and a discussion of important historiographical trends in previous studies of Insular exile. Chapter two focuses on the evolution of exile in Continental Europe from Rome’s Republic through to Justinian’s sixth-century legislation. This chapter highlights the origin and practice of penitential exile on the Continent with a focus on the sixth century when it makes its legislative debut. Chapter three turns to Britain, where I consider the origin and practice of penitential exile in the early penitential documents from the sixth century. I provide an in-depth analysis for each assignment of exile and identify points of distinction in British practice vis-à-vis the Continent. In so doing, I am able to identify the conceptual and theological framework undergirding the British tradition of penitential exile and draw conclusions as to the level and nature of connectivity and exchange between British and Continental Christians. Chapter four turns to Ireland, where I scrutinise Irish penitential canons assigning exile, showing how exile serves as an excellent tool to analyse processes of Christianisation and acculturation by considering the early Irish evidence against that from the Visigothic and Burgundian kingdoms. This chapter explores the interplay between native Irish law and foreign practices of exile coming to Ireland through textual transmission and missionaries. Chapter five brings the conclusions from the preceding chapters together and teases out the implications of the dissertation’s findings.

Authors: Cutrer, MD

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-7ranwpnwg
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: exile; penance
• Subjects: History