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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture This reminds me of Odo of Cluny's vita of Gerald of Aurillac (mid-tenth century). In it, Odo asserts that the nauseatingly pious Count Gerald secretly tonsured half his head (keeping it hidden under a cap). Phyllis >medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture > >Dear List members, >I have come across what to me is a unique example of what appears to be " >lay tonsure". In a ninth-century French monastic Vita, a highly placed royal >official decided to enter a monastery. He first obtained permission from the >king. The king then accompanied the official to the monastery. There the >official first laid his knight's belt on the altar. The king then stepped up >and "with the abbot's permission" clipped a few hairs from the official's >head, followed by other members of the court who did the same. >I've never come across this sort of lay involvement in monastic tonsure >before. Has anyone seen other instances of this? Is there some theory behind >it (none is suggested in my source). >thanks >jw > >********************************************************************** >To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME >to: [log in to unmask] >To send a message to the list, address it to: >[log in to unmask] >To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion >to: [log in to unmask] >In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: >[log in to unmask] >For further information, visit our web site: >http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice [log in to unmask] ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html