lic. Kacper Pielat

Section 27.: Ways of manifesting secular and ecclesiastical power in medieval sources

Among the various gaps in the study of cartularies within Polish historiography, one of the most notable is the lack of adequate consideration given to the form of these still insufficiently recognized chancery records. The term 'cartulary' can encompass a broad spectrum of diverse source types, from single parchment sheets to large, illuminated codices. Recently, Anna Adamska has emphasized the significance of the charter’s appearance and layout in this context. In the case of cartularies, the problem can be observed on two levels: the organization of the graphosphere of the cartulary itself, as well as the reproduction of the graphic features of a particular charter. This paper will look at several examples to explore these overlooked aspects of source studies and to highlight the prestigious, symbolic and ceremonial roles that some cartularies may have played in expressing authority and institutional identity.