Dispute Settlements and Administration: In Anglo-Saxon England: in the Case of West Midlands

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00925
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03040:History of Europe and America-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Mori Takako 愛媛大学, 教育学部, 教授 (10346661)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アングロ・サクソン期イングランド / 紛争解決 / 集会研究 / モラル・エコノミー論 / エアルドールマン / 独立農民

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research aims to describe the social structure in Anglo-Saxon England, emphasizing the process of consolidation, which was realized by various acters engaging in dispute settlements at local assemblies. In the first year, identities of ealdormen, who mediated between kingship and local society were focused. In the second year, I explored the way of discussing free farmers who were important for maintaining local social order but rarely referred to in written sources. And in the final year, as a key concept which connects high-ranking men like ealdormen and local farmers, the idea of a ‘moral economy’ was examined, focusing on its effectiveness. As a result, the following points have been found: (i)there were values which were shared between elites and local peasants; (ii)these values and reciprocity between them legitimized the social hierarchy; (iii)(i) and (ii) consolidated Anglo-Saxon society successfully.

Free Research Field

中世初期イングランドの社会構造

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

アングロ・サクソン社会に関する近年の研究では、10世紀以降の「国家」形成が高く評価され、その中で、王権による集会を通じた統治に関心が寄せられてきた。これに対して本研究では、中世初期社会における秩序維持の特徴を、国家に代表される垂直的な権力と在地共同体による水平的な力が、相互補完的に機能する点にあるとの前提に立ち、地域による秩序維持機能のメカニズムを問うた。つまり集会を単なる上からの統治の手段として見るのではなく、王権と司教、エアルドールマンといった諸権力、そして在地住民に代表される地域が絡み合う場と理解し、従来の研究動向に欠けていた、社会構造の立体的・動体的把握を目指した。