Wydawca:
Format:
ibuk
The book presents the biography of Maria, daughter of Christopher Lekapenos (the eldest son of emperor Romanos I). For about 35 years, she was the tsaritsa of the Bulgarians at the side of her husband, tsar Peter (927–969). Her character is but dimly visible in the sources; interestingly, the few sources that do mention her are almost exclusively of Byzantine provenance. Most scholars who have dealt with her life – usually, we may add, as a side note to their studies on Peter’s reign – saw in her a representative of the interests of Constantinople and a propagator of Byzantine culture. Some have gone so far as to call her a Byzantine agent at the Bulgarian court.
Through their meticulous analysis of the primary sources and profound knowledge of the literature on the subject, the authors of the book – the first monograph on Maria ever to have been written – are able to construct a balanced narrative of the tsaritsa’s life and her role in 10th century Bulgaria, putting aside biases and negative emotions.
The publication is supplemented by a translation of the fragments of the Hellenic and Roman Chronicle of the second redaction devoted to Maria and Peter.
Zofia A. Brzozowska and Mirosław J. Leszka treat the protagonist of their book with undeniable sympathy (as signaled already in the title). Following the footprints of Maria Lekapene, the authors paint a vivid picture of Byzantium in the first half of the 10th century, as well as present the history of its neighbor – the Bulgarian state; for it is there that the grand political game of the Constantinople court ‘cast’ Maria, daughter of Romanos Lekapenos. The biography of Maria Lekapene (...) is an eagerly awaited publication in the international Byzantinological and Slavicist community; I predict that it will be a scholarly success. (...) The authors of the book (...) are eminent experts in the field of Byzantine history, which guarantees the factual accuracy and high scholarly level of the work (...).
Prof. Ireneusz Milewski, University of Gdansk
Rok wydania | 2017 |
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Liczba stron | 236 |
Kategoria | Publikacje darmowe |
Wydawca | Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego |
ISBN-13 | 978-83-8142-029-7 |
Numer wydania | 1 |
Język publikacji | angielski |
Informacja o sprzedawcy | ePWN sp. z o.o. |
POLECAMY
Ciekawe propozycje
Spis treści
Introduction I | |
Chapter I. Sources – Zofia A. Brzozowska | 7 |
Chapter II. Origins and Early Years – Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka | 17 |
Chapter III. The Year 927 – Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka | 29 |
1. Byzantine-Bulgarian Relations during the Reign of Symeon the Great (893–927) – Mirosław J. Leszka | 29 |
2. Peter’s Way to the Bulgarian Throne – Mirosław J. Leszka | 41 |
3. Peace Negotiations – Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka | 45 |
4. Peace Treaty – Mirosław J. Leszka | 49 |
5. Wedding – Zofia A. Brzozowska | 55 |
Chapter IV. The Marriage with the Bulgarian Ruler – Honor or Degradation? – Zofia A. Brzozowska | 59 |
Chapter V. Maria Lekapene as a Mother – Zofia A. Brzozowska | 71 |
Chapter VI. On the Bulgarian Throne at Peter’s Side – Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka | 79 |
Chapter VII. Maria Lekapene and the Transfer of the Idea of the Imperial Feminine in Medieval Bulgaria – Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka | 99 |
1. Female Authority in Byzantium – Mirosław J. Leszka | 101 |
1.1. The Byzantine Model of the Empress | 101 |
1.2. The Empress’s Court | 105 |
1.3. Coronations of Empresses | 109 |
1.4. Imperial Wedding Ceremonies and Festivities | 112 |
1.5. Participation in Secular and Religious Ceremonies | 114 |
1.6. Philanthropy and Donation Activities | 118 |
1.7. Political Influence of Byzantine Empresses | 120 |
1.8. Rule from Behind the Throne | 122 |
1.9. Female Regents | 128 |
2. Maria Lekapene, Empress of the Bulgarians – Titulature, Seals, Insignia – Zofia A. Brzozowska | 131 |
Chapter VIII. Towards Eternity – Zofia A. Brzozowska, Mirosław J. Leszka | 145 |
Final Remarks | 151 |
Appendix. Maria Lekapene and Peter in Medieval Rus’ Historiography – fragments of the Hellenic and Roman Chronicle of the second redaction – Zofia A. Brzozowska | 155 |
Bibliography | 171 |
1. Sources | 171 |
2. Modern Scholarship | 178 |
Indices | 201 |
1. Index of People | 201 |
2. Index of Ethnic and Geographic Names | 210 |
Illustrations | 213 |