The Medieval Cult of St Petroc

by Karen Jankulak

Overview

The saint's cult casts light on relations between Cornwall and Brittany - and Henry II's empire - in the 12th century.

The historical, political, ecclesiastical, and religious relationships between medieval Cornwall, Brittany, Wales, Ireland and England are explored here through a study of the cult of St Petroc. Evidence for the cult in each areais thoroughly surveyed, but Cornwall and Brittany, the most important loci of the cult and most closely linked by language and culture, are the book's primary focus. The implications of the cult of a Celtic saint [generallyan intensely local phenomenon] shared between Cornwall and Brittany are discussed, and attention is given to the highly politically-directed twelfth-century account of the furtive translation of the saint's relics to Brittany, which offers invaluable evidence for relations between Cornwall and Brittany, and also for Brittany's position in the Angevin empire of Henry II.

Dr KAREN JANKULAK lectures in the Department of Welsh, University of Wales,Lampeter. She gained her Ph.D. from the Centre for Medieval Studies, Toronto, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Celtic Studies, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780851157771
Publisher:	Boydell & Brewer, Limited
Publication date:	10/19/2000
Series:	ISSN , #19
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x (d)

About the Author

Lecturer in Medieval History

Editorial Reviews

Essentially an archaeological examination of Petroc's cult: a study of the many different chronological and ideological layers implicit in the sites and rituals devoted to him... Lots of ideas in this book and lots of challenges issued to received methodologies.

ALBION

It is an especial pleasure to see this excellent book examining the medieval hagiographic, onomastic and historical sources of evidence for St. Petroc.. A superior work of scholarship.

SPECULUM

Far-reaching, source-based cultural study... a good example of the gains that can be made when a focus on the 'life' of an early medieval saint is replaced by a focus on the cult.

CAMBRIAN MEDIEVAL CELTIC STUDIES

The chapter on Brittany is both fresh and revealing... a detailed study of Petroc's cult.

JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

A detailed and valuable analysis of the text.

ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW

A detailed and valuable analysis of the text. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW

Essentially an archaeological examination of Petroc's cult: a study of the many different chronological and ideological layers implicit in the sites and rituals devoted to him... Lots of ideas in this book and lots of challenges issued to received methodologies. ALBION

The chapter on Brittany is both fresh and revealing... a detailed study of Petroc's cult. JOURNAL OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

Far-reaching, source-based cultural study... a good example of the gains that can be made when a focus on the 'life' of an early medieval saint is replaced by a focus on the cult. CAMBRIAN MEDIEVAL CELTIC STUDIES

It is an especial pleasure to see this excellent book examining the medieval hagiographic, onomastic and historical sources of evidence for St. Petroc.. A superior work of scholarship. SPECULUM

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