Magic and Impotence in the Middle AgesMagic and Impotence in the Middle Ages investigates the common medieval belief that magic could cause impotence, focusing particularly on the period 1150-1450. The subject has never been studied in detail before, but there is a surprisingly large amount of information about it in four kinds of source: confessors' manuals; medical compendia that discussed many illnesses; commentaries on canon law; and theological commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard.Although most historians of medieval culture focus on only one or two of these kinds of source, a broader comparison reveals that medieval writers held surprisingly diverse opinions about what magic was, how it worked, and whether it was ever legitimate to use it.Medieval discussions of magically caused impotence also include a great deal of information about magical practices, most of which have not been studied before. In particular, these sources say a great deal about popular magic, a subject which has been particularly neglected by historians because the evidence is scanty and difficult to interpret. Magic and Impotence makes new information about popular magic available for the first time.Magic and Impotence also examines why the authors of legal, medical, and theological texts were so interested in popular magical practices relating to impotence. It therefore uses magically caused impotence as a case-study to explore the relationship between elite and popular culture. In particular, this study emphasizes the importance of the thirteenth-century pastoral reform movement, which sought to enforce more orthodox religious practices. Historians have often noted that thismovement brought churchmen into contact with popular beliefs, but this is the first study to demonstrate the profound effect it had on theological and legal ideas about magic. |
Contents
1 Introduction | 1 |
Impotence Magic in the Ancient World | 14 |
The Early Middle Ages c800c1100 | 29 |
4 Impotence Magic Enters the Academic World 11001190 | 53 |
Impotence in the Magical Texts | 76 |
Pastoral Literature 12001400 | 90 |
Canon Law 12001400 | 113 |
Theology 12201400 | 135 |
Medicine 12401400 | 160 |
10 Impotence Magic and the Rise of Witchcraft | 186 |
Conclusion | 208 |
On those who impeded by magic cannot have intercourse Pantegni Practica Book 8 Chapter 29 and the Remedies Against Magic | 215 |
Cases of MagicallyCaused Impotence 8001450 | 229 |
| 232 | |
| 249 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Albertus Magnus amulets annulment argued Arnold of Villanova bewitched canon law canonists cause impotence Chapter commentaries confession manuals Constantine the African Decretum described discussed magically-caused impotence discussions of impotence discussions of magically-caused Duns Scotus earlier fifteenth century fourteenth century genres Gilbertus Anglicus Guaineri Hincmar Hincmar of Rheims Hostiensis Huguccio Ibid idea impeded impotence magic intercourse interest John John’s Kieckhefer later lecto Lothar magic and impotence magic could cause magic that caused magical cures magical practices magical texts magically-caused impotence magician maleficia maleficium manuscripts marriage medical texts medical writers medicine mention magic Middle Ages Oxford Pantegni Paris pastoral literature pastoral movement pastoral writers Peter Petrus Hispanus physicians popular beliefs popular magic potest quia quod Raymond of Peñafort recipes remedies Roffredus Sentences Sextus sortiarias spell suggest Summa theologians thirteenth century trans twelfth century University Press William of Auvergne witch witchcraft woman women written sources