The Cambridge History of the Papacy: Volume 1, The Two Swords

Addresses how the papacy became an institution, and how it distinguished itself from other powers, both secular and religious.

Joëlle Rollo-Koster (Edited by), Robert A. Ventresca (Edited by), Melodie H. Eichbauer (Edited by), Miles Pattenden (Edited by)

9781108485234, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 March 2025

838 pages
23.5 x 16.1 x 4.2 cm, 1.44 kg

Throughout its history, the papacy has engaged with the world. Volume 1 addresses how the papacy became an institution, and how it distinguished itself from other powers, both secular and religious. Aptly titled 'The Two Swords,' it explores the papacy's navigation, negotiation, and re-negotiation, initially of its place and its role amid changing socio-political ideas and practices. Surviving and thriving in such environment naturally had an impact on the power dynamics between the papacy and the secular realm, as well internal dissents and with non-Catholics. The volume explores how changing ideas, beliefs, and practices in the broader world engaged the papacy and lead it to define its own conceptualizations of power. This dynamic has enabled the papacy to shift and be reshaped according to circumstances often well beyond its control or influence.

General Introduction Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Robert A. Ventresca, Melodie Eichbauer and Miles Pattenden
Part I. Christendom and Empire: 1. Inventing Peter in late antiquity George E. Demacopoulos
2. From Constantine to Justinian Hartmut Leppin
3. The Popes and the papacy in the Carolingian world Thomas F. X. Noble
4. The papal monarchy and the empire in the thirteenth century Brett Edward Whalen
5. Papal primacy and the holy Roman emperors (IV–XII centuries) Uta-Renate Blumenthal
Part II. Crises, Schisms, and Dissent: 6. Gregory VII and the reform movement John Howe
7. The schism of 1054 Eugene Webb
8. The papacy, heresy, and religious dissent Irene Bueno
9. The papacy and crusaders: from the Saracens to Stalin Rebecca Rist
10. The Avignon papacy and the Great Western Schism Blake Beattie
11. The Great Western Schism in history and memory Bénédicte Sère
Part III. Reformations and Revolutions: 12. The papacy and the Protestants (1517–63) Nelson Minnich
13. The Reformation Popes Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin
14. The Popes and The Enlightenment Shaun Blanchard
15. The papacy in revolution 1775–1823: the Cesena Popes, Pius VI and Pius VII Ambrogio Caiani
16. Enlightenment and its aftermath: liberalism, materialism, and nationalism Daniele Menozzi
17. Pope Leo XIII and the Catholic response to modernity Robert P. Kraynak
Part IV. Theopolitics and Religious Diplomacy: 18. Papal elections and renunciations Miles Pattenden
19. The military papacy David Alvarez
20. Benedict XV (1914–22) and the legacy of a wartime papacy John Pollard
21. The papacy and slavery Justine Walden
22. The papacy and the decolonization of Africa Elizabeth Foster
23. The rise of liberation theology Michael E. Lee
24. Papal diplomacy during and since the Ancien Régime Toby Osborne
Part V. Inter-Faith Relations: Confrontation and Dialogue: 25. The papacy and the Christian East: the theological issues Edward Siecienski
26. The Popes and the Protestant churches Joshua Bennett
27. The Popes and Islam John Tolan
28. The Islamic world and the papacy Alexander Mallett
29. The medieval papacy and the Jews Kenneth Stow
30. The papacy and the Jews since the French Revolution Adrian Ciani
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Church history [HRCC2]