Christ’s war

Holiness, heroism and horror in Carolingian poetry, c.730–c.900 CE

Matthew Bryan Gillis

• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN:
  9781526193780
• eBook ISBN:
  9781526193773
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European Medieval History
• Index: History

Christ's war examines Carolingian holy war from the forging of their empire in the eighth century to its dissolution in the late ninth century during the Northmen's attacks. It argues that the Franks understood their wars to be holy when their soldiers were without sin and, therefore, were holy themselves. God heard their prayers as they begged for divine aid, and he helped them overcome and slaughter their foes. Therefore, the Carolingian vision of holy war differed from the pious, apocalyptic military pilgrimages of the subsequent Crusades. Latin poetry serves as an important source in this study for understanding holy war, including how poets dramatized glorious victories or horrifying defeats for their audiences. The book offers important insights into the religious nature of Frankish warfare, while also contributing a fresh and innovative perspective on medieval holy war overall.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series Information
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• List of abbreviations
• Introduction: Holy war, poetry and horror in the Carolingian world
• 1 Heroism and divine favor during the eighth-century wars of conquest
• 2 From the tyranny of the pagans to the terror of the Franks in Carolingian warfare
• 3 Horror, the crisis of heroism and the question of election at the division of the empire
• 4 Heroism in the era of the Northmen’s attacks
• Conclusion: The poetics of Carolingian holy war
• Bibliography
• Index