Percezioni esterne della figura damianea: l’Iter Gallicum tra fama e guerra di parole

• Published in: Noctua (Parma, Italy) Vol. VIII; no. 1-2; pp. 204 - 227
• Main Author: Antonio Manco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: E-theca OnLineOpenAccess Edizioni 01-12-2021
• Subjects: apostolic legation; cluny; communication; papal supremacy; peter damian; war of words
• ISSN: 2284-1180
• DOI: 10.14640/NoctuaVIII7

The spread of the reform found one of its protagonists in the hermit and Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, Peter Damian. An example worthy of case-study is the Gallic mission as apostolic legate in 1063. The most complete report of this journey was written by an anonymous disciple. This perspective allows to observe Damian’s communication strategies and the different methods used referring to the various interlocutors. The cause of the apostolic legation was the help request from Hugh, abbot of Cluny, for the pressures suffered by the Bishop of Macon. The occasion was propitious from the point of view of the cardinal bishop to expand his network of personal and institutional relationships and to legitimize the papal supremacy. He proceeded to France, summoned a council at Chalon-sur-Saône and proved the justice of the contentions of Cluny. Despite the lack of historiographical success, this work remains an extremely useful source for studying a man who made his ars rethorica a powerful weapon in the service of the reform.