German History· 2026Q2
Peace Ethic or Power Politics? Thoughts on the ‘Peace Programme’ of Henry III
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- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Henry III's reign was not guided by a consistent 'peace programme' rooted in personal religiosity, but rather by pragmatic power politics and coercive conflict management, contrary to a century-old historiographical interpretation.
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Key points
- Challenges the long-standing interpretation of Henry III possessing a 'peace programme' driven by personal religiosity.
- Compares panegyrical representations (e.g., Abbot Bern of Reichenau's letters) with narrative accounts of military and political conflicts.
- Reveals discrepancies between religious ideals and Henry III's actual conduct in political disputes.
- Suggests Henry III employed military intervention and coercive conflict management rather than a consistent peace ethic.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract This article critically examines a historiographical interpretation of Henry III that has prevailed for roughly a century and attributes to him a distinctive peace ethic, often described as a defining ‘peace programme’ of his kingship. Such interpretations portray Henry’s rule as strongly shaped by personal religiosity, expressed especially through public acts of penance and forgiveness. Yet these ideals are difficult to reconcile with Henry III’s conduct in political conflicts. Focusing on the Battle of Ménfő and selected confrontations with the magnates of the realm, this article compares different types of contemporary evidence. It reveals significant discrepancies between panegyrical representations, especially in the letters of Abbot Bern of Reichenau, and narrative accounts that emphasize military intervention, coercive conflict management and political bargaining. The evidence therefore provides little support for interpreting Henry III’s religious performances as expressions of a consistent peace-oriented policy.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. German History, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Classics
ClassicsArts and Humanities