Early mechanisms of abbatial succession: the case of Iona (563–704)
Published version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
McAlary, P https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7521-8715
Abstract
jats:pComments about succession to the Iona abbacy rarely go beyond the observation that most of the early abbots – but not all – belonged to the Cenél Conaill, the kindred of Iona’s founder, Saint Columba. This point privileges the role of eligibility criteria in the succession process at the expense of agency. This paper concerns itself with the specific mechanism that mediated the Iona abbacy: the central question is not ‘who’ could succeed, but rather ‘how’ they succeeded. It will be suggested that abbatial authority was passed from one abbot to the next via designations, whereby the reigning abbot appointed his own successor.</jats:p>
Description
Keywords
4303 Historical Studies, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology
Journal Title
Early Medieval Europe
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0963-9462
1468-0254
1468-0254
Volume Title
30
Publisher
Wiley
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
AHRC (2129706)