"Fichtenau delivers a fascinating view of tenth-century Europe on the eve of the second millenium. He writes this hoping we, on the eve of the third millennium, will take time also to look at who we are and at our world. . . . This engaging book lucidly carries the reader through an amazing amount of material. Medieval scholars will find it resourceful and challenging; the nonscholar will find it fascinating and enlightening."A. L. Kolp, Choice

"Living in the Tenth Century resembles an anthropological field study more than a conventional historical monograph, and represents a far more ambitious attempt to see behind the surface of avowals and events than others have seriously attempted even for much more voluminously documented periods. . . . It is remarkably rich and readable."R.I. Moore, Times Higher Education Supplement

"Fichtenau offers a magnificent survey of all the main spheres of life: the social order, the rural economy, schooling and religious belief and practice in both the secular and monastic church. His command, especially of the narrative sources, their fine nuances of attitude emotion and underlying norms, is masterly and he employs them here with all the sensitiveness and feel for the subject that have always been the hallmarks of his work."Karl Leyser, Francia

Translator's ForewordIntroductionI. Ordo1. Order as Rank OrderOrdo and OrdinesRanking of Cities and ChurchesEcclesiastical Disputes over RankingApostolicity and Ecclesiastical PrecedenceThe Abbot PrimateSeating Arrangements at Religious AssembliesMonastic Rank OrdersRanking in the Secular Sphere2. Social Gestures, an Aspect of "Custom"Custom and SymbolsCustom and TraditionSpecific Gestures: Favor and DisgraceHumiliationThe Feudal Kiss and the Kiss of PeaceGifts and Praise of the GiverMourningPenanceGestures with Cap, Staff, Scepter, and LanceGestures with Ecclesiastical Insignia3. Representation as Evidence of StatusReceptionHomage and Obligatory ProcessionsRetinuesBanquetsTable MannersSecular Marks of Status: Clothes, Jewelry, Weapons, HorsesEcclesiastical Marks of StatusCultic RepresentationII. Familia4. Family and ClanExtended Family versus Nuclear FamilyCognatioMatrimonial PoliticsProhibited Degrees5. Patriarchal LordshipFamilia and FamilyThe House and Its GovernorThe Wife in the HouseVarieties of MarriageDevaluation of WomenThe Wife's Actual StatusSonsClerical Marriage and Children6. The Familial ModelThe Monastic FamiliaFamilies within the FamiliaThe Courtly FamiliaContraternitiesSpiritual KinshipFamilial Forms of Hierarchical ThoughtIII. Nobilitas7. The NobleNobel and NobilisThe Essence of NobilityThe Honor: Office, Land, PeoplePedigreeSpiritual CaresFidelity, Vassalage, Feudalism8. The KingKingship and NobilitySacred KingshipAdministering the KingdomThe EmperorQualities of the RulerThe King at WarAdvisersThe Queen9. The BishopOrigin and KindredFamilial Politics and Family-based GovernmentEpiscopal AppointmentsThe Bishop as LordSecular Activities within the CitySecular Activities in Feudal and Royal ServiceThe Armed BishopPastoral DutiesPublic Dying10. Worldly ClericsSecularsThe Cathedral ChapterCanons and CanonessesCanonsCononessesMonasticism and the LaityLay Abbots, Feudalism, Advocacy WarfareAbbot and BishopIV. Religio11. Hermits and ReformersThe Eremitic TraditionSanctificationMonastic ReformReformers and ConservativesRitualism12. Monastic LifeGroup Formation: Nutriti and ConversiPriest Monks and CriminalsMonasteries Great and SmallMonastic Buildings: The Role of Fire and LightThe Cloister and the Outside WorldContemplation and PrayerWorkMonastic Fare13. Education and School in the MonasteryThe Purpose of EducationAncient and Modern PatternsProcuring BooksThe Heritage of Classical EducationPride in KnowledgeWandering ScholarsThe Liberal ArtsV. Vulgus14. Popular BeliefsInbelle vulgus and vulgus indoctumReligious Instruction of the PeasantryDisbelief and SuperstitionGod and Divine JudgmentsThe Devil and DemonsGods and SpiritsNatural PhenomenaWhite and Black MagicSaints and Relics15. Peasant ExistenceDomestic AnimalsFarm ImplementsPasture and ForestFarming: Grain, Wine, and LegumesLarge Estates and Small LandholdingsIncastellamentoCastellanies in FrancePeasantry and Castles in Germany16. Stratification and MobilityFree and Unfree PeasantryTenants and the Partially FreeThe PoorServants and SlavesSocial AdvancementVI. Confusio17. Disorders and Public CoercionLaments over General DisorderEmotionality and PanicConflicting NormsSecular Means of CoercionExcommunication, Anathema, InterdictAnticlericalism, AreligiosityThe Search for Faith: Judaizers and Heretics18. Lies and DeceitLiterary Truth and FictionCunningLoyalty and DisloyaltyOath Breaking and PerjuryDeceit and the Family19. Illegitimate PowerWar and FeudMeans of RepressionHomicideRobbers and So-Called RobbersThe Peace of GodEpilogue: A Look into the Future of the PastBibliographyPrimary SourcesSecondary SourcesSources by ChapterIndex