Description
Book SynopsisThis 1995 book explores how political power was exerted and family identity expressed in the context of reconstruction of the noble families of the medieval duchies of Gaeta, Amalfi and Naples. It is of special relevance to European studies of early medieval family and state structures.
Trade Review"...Skinner has succeeded in creating a detailed picture of life in the region between Rome and Naples....The heart of Skinner's political narrative is her careful and highly successful reconstruction of local families in the manner typical of studies of the north, but unusual in local studies of the south....through a thoughtful consideration of what resources were necessary for town life, as well as grains, tenants, and market crops, Skinner is able to create an image of a relatively robust economy that continued to flourish in the twelfth century." American Historical Review
"...a useful and thought-provoking first book that can be a valuable resource to specialists for information concerning the magnate families of Gaeta from c. 850 to 1139." Journal of Interdisciplinary History
"...an important contribution to the study of early medieval Italy, and [it] forces us to rethink some of our assumptions about the nature of the medieval state. Dr, Skinner's mastery of her source material is impressive...she presents a solid case for the importance of this sort of study." Canadian Journal of History
"Unquestionably, tracking major landowning families can prove illuminating. And Patricia Skinner, a student of Chris Wickham and now a research fellow at University College, London, has done an exceptionally thorough job of this for the Duchy of Gaeta." Barbara Kreutz, Medieval Philosophy
"In this useful study, replete with an ample bibliography and extensive index, the author convincingly demonstrates that during the tenth century, power in Gaeta remained with the ruling family and that the same group of noble families predominated." Italian Quarterly
Table of ContentsPreface; Abbreviations; Maps and figures; Introduction; 1. Sources; Part I. From the Beginnings to the Eleventh Century: 2. The origins of dynastic rule; 3. The foundations of ducal power in the tenth century; 4. Noble families in the tenth century; Part II. A Time of Change: The Eleventh Century and Beyond: 5. From local dukes to Norman kings; 6. The emergence of new families; Part III. The Economics of Power: 7. Landowners and exchanges in the Tyrrhenian; 8. Local exchange and long-distance contacts: the Norman kingdom and the North; Conclusion; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.
