Individual and universal continuities in visigothic and postgothic spain.

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Brigitte Kasten
• Subject Area: Medieval History
• Term: from 2013 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 232843786

The project is dedicated to the exploration of last wills in the christian parts of the Iberian Peninsula with the object to examine a certain type of documents concerning appearance, formula, development and the socio-economical relevance connected to an contextual analysis.Last wills offer numerous possibilities to elaborate continuity, change and regional differences. In the focus will the diplomatic formula with its dispersion, changes and social context, further the juridical procedure. In addition it is possible to come to conclusions about the economics, religious conceptions and social structures. Devoutness, family policy, solidarity and conflict can be found in documents written at the end of ones life aiming to regulate the affaires of the heritage. The individual is disposing for a continuity surviving his own individual existence. At same time we to look at continuities in a more corporated sens.Concerning type and formula of the documents, the appearance of certain parts, regional differences and Urkundenlandschaften can be elaborated. Regional differendes in juridical procedures are of interest, too.The region to be elaborated will be the Visigothic realm and its christian successors in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, based on visigothic and roman traditions supplemented by frankish traditions in the East (Catalonia). The focussed period will end with the reign of Sancho el Mayor (d. 1035)

• DFG Programme: Research Grants