Converting the Saxons (Studies in Medieval Religions and Cultures)

Utilizing a "crusading ethos," from 772 to 804 AD, Charlemagne, King of the Franks, waged war against the continental Saxons to integrate them into the Frankish empire and to facilitate their conversion to Christianity. While substantial research has been undertaken on various aspects of Carolingian history, this work offers a unique examination of Charlemagne's Saxon Wars as a case study for understanding methods of conversion used in the Christianization of Europe, as well as of their significance for subsequent conversion strategies employed around the globe. Throughout Converting the Saxons particular emphasis is given to Christian encounters with paganism and the way paganism was interpreted, confronted, and transformed. Within those encounters we observe myriad forces of coercion and incentivization used in societal religious conversion, demonstrating the need for a serious reconsideration of the standard narratives surrounding Christian missions. This book provides a scholarly and accessible resource for students and researchers interested in transhistorical methods of conversion, the history of Christianity, early medieval paganism, colonial religious encounters, and the nature of religious conversion.

• | Author: Joshua M. Cragle
• | Publisher: Routledge
• | Publication Date: Oct 06, 2023
• | Number of Pages: 296 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Hardcover
• | ISBN-10: 1032458968
• | ISBN-13: 9781032458960