Terror, timor, and metus in the 10th Century: The Case of Liutprand of Cremona’s Antapodosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6093/1593-2214/11279Keywords:
Middle Ages, 10th Century, Italic Kingdom, Reign of Western Franks, Liutprand of Cremona, Antapodosis, Ottonians, Italic princes, fear, terrorAbstract
This article examines the roles and meanings of terror, timor, and metus in Liutprand of Cremona’s Antapodosis. By employing the methodologies of ‘situational reading’ of emotions and emotional scripts, it explores episodes involving Italian princes, Hungarians, Saracens, and the Ottonians (Henry I and Otto I), where fear, dread, and terror are key themes. On one hand, the analysis of these emotions, as experienced by the protagonists, highlights a dual perspective from the author, focusing on how the characters react to and engage with these feelings. On the other hand, the article demonstrates how such emotions, when provoked in others, can be used either as tools of coercion and deterrence in a negative context or as means to legitimize political authority and strengthen social cohesion within the kingdom in a positive sense.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Nicole Demarchi
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