Monks and Their Frenemies

Monastic chroniclers employed degrading language and negative rhetorical strategies to discredit opponents, shaping their community's identity. Hugh of Poitiers's 'Vézelay Chronicle' (1155–1168) illustrates this through three key themes: portraying rivals as beasts, manipulating gender discourses to assert masculine authority, and condemning sacrilegious violence against monastic attire. The study reveals how such narratives were used to claim power over competitors like Cluny Abbey, local officials, and rebellious townspeople, offering insight into medieval rhetorical tactics.

Miller, A. G. (2024). Monks and Their Frenemies. Medieval Work, Worship, and Power, 58–73. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003403616-6