The lands of Saint Ambrose : the acquisition, organisation and exploitation of landed property in north-western Lombardy by the Monastery of Sant'Ambrogio Milan, c.780-1000
This thesis is a detailed local study of the property controlled by the monastery of Sant' Ambrogio Milan in the pre-eleventh century period. Its central premise is that landowning brought the monastery a degree of material power whose nature has hitherto been poorly understood, in contrast to its spiritual importance which is well-established. Chapter One examines the authenticity and usefulness as tools for answering historical questions of three hundred and fifty charters which provide the main evidential base of the thesis. Chapter Two discusses the geographical, social and political context within which the monastery functioned, focussing not simply on the major ecclesiastical and lay jurisdictions in the region but also on the mechanics of how land itself was 'held' by a religious community with little opportunity to enforce its ownership. In Chapters Three, Four and Five it is established where the monastery had property, how and when this was acquired, within a chronological framework extending from the period before the foundation of the community (in 789) to the end of the tenth century, a chronology which is essential to an understanding of the intricate changes which occurred as the result of continuing
Balzaretti, Rossano
History
The lands of Saint Ambrose : the acquisition, organisation and exploitation of landed property in north-western Lombardy by the Monastery of Sant'Ambrogio Milan, c.780-1000. This thesis is a detailed local study of the property controlled by the monastery of Sant' Ambrogio Milan in the pre-eleventh century period. Its central premise is that landowning brought the monastery a degree of material power whose nature has hitherto been poorly understood, in contrast to its spiritual importance which is well-established. Chapter One examines the authenticity and usefulness as tools for answering historical questions of three hundred and fifty charters which provide the main evidential base of the thesis. Chapter Two discusses the geographical, social and political context within which the monastery functioned, focussing not simply on the major ecclesiastical and lay jurisdictions in the region but also on the mechanics of how land itself was 'held' by a religious community with little opportunity to enforce its ownership. In Chapters Three, Four and Five it is established where the monastery had property, how and when this was acquired, within a chronological framework extending from the period before the foundation of the community (in 789) to the end of the tenth century, a chronology which is essential to an understanding of the intricate changes which occurred as the result of continuing
land saint acquisition organisation exploitation land property north_western monastery milan detailed local study property control monastery milan period central premise landowning brought monastery degree material power whose nature hitherto poorly_understood contrast spiritual importance well_established examine authenticity usefulness tool answer historical question charter provide main evidential base thesis two_discus geographical_social political_context within monastery function focus simply major ecclesiastical lay jurisdiction region also mechanic land held religious_community little opportunity enforce ownership three_four establish monastery property acquire within_chronological framework extend period foundation community end chronology essential intricate change_occur continue