Western Europe in the age of Abbot-Bishop Oliba: persistence and transformation after the Carolingians

This essay situates Count-Bishop Oliba of Vic in post-Carolingian western Europe by comparing his spiritual and political roles to those of contemporary bishops beyond the Pyrenees: Fulbert of Chartres, Gerard of Cambrai, Burchard of Worms, and Aribert of Milan. Although not in direct communication with each other, these men faced similar challenges. Each bishop concentrated on securing the regional levers of power, either assuming the roles traditionally held by counts or else contesting these with actual counts. A major factor differentiating their careers was the presence or absence of strong royal authority, which determined not only their selection as bishops but also the extent to which, after consecration, they were obliged to respond to external authority.