Transferring the Sacredness. Freedom and Property of Relics in Italian Hagiographic Tradition of furta sacra (cc. 7th-9th)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse the notion of property within the medieval tradition of furta sacra – hagiographic accounts of the thefts of relics or the bodies of saints – focusing on how it is conceived, violated, or reconstructed. I will examine a corpus of tales from early medieval Italy, describing thefts that took place between the seventh and ninth centuries, to highlight several key aspects, including: the violation of a sanctuary’s property through attempted misappropriation, often prompted by a supernatural agency (i.e. the saints themselves); reflections on the ownership of relics based on hagiographical sources, and the legitimacy of their transfer without the shrine’s permission; the violation of sacred spaces in relation to the transference of sacredness from one place to another; and the relocation of relics, with specific rites performed to establish a new dwelling for the saint. At the same time, the theme of freedom will also be explored. In many cases of theft, two different perspectives emerge: the possibility that the saint is free to cease protecting a city, comply with the appropriation, and “reside” elsewhere; and the notion that the saint – particularly the saint’s body – can be regarded as a prisoner, deprived of freedom.