Relics, Identity, and Memory in Medieval Europe

This volume opens up new and fascinating perspectives into European history. It analyses the practices involved in the perception and treatment of relics by both ecclesiastical and secular communities (the papacy, individual dioceses, the Holy Roman emperors, national monarchs, and urban communities). It highlights the significance of saints' relics in a range of socio-political contexts, and explores the miraculous capacity of the relics to change their meaning depending on the needs of specific situations and the interests of individuals or communities.