Relaciones diplomáticas y legitimación del poder episcopal en la Alta Edad Media

Abstract

The current article analyses the theme of the gains of prestige of catholic bishops when they were designated to diplomatic functions in the Roman-Germanic kingdoms of Early Middle Ages. The role of emissary, in the Antiquity, always brought major power gains to nobles who were assigned to this public function. To be nominated emissary was an unequivocal proof of the public virtues of a noble, which clearly project his prestige among his equals. Due to the diffusion of Christianity, as well the political collapse of the Roman Empire, the Christian bishops will experience in the diplomatic service an opportunity to increase their power. However, from the Catholic ideology point of view, the honor a bishop would receive in this function would not came just form the public prestige of the diplomatic activity, but mainly from the possibility of exercising some Christian virtues, such as the conciliation and the charity. Nevertheless, in the political praxis, these virtues could be eclipsed by the daily political agenda of the kingdom.