Dominion of God: Christendom and Apocalypse in the Middle Ages
Whalen shows how the 'Papal Revolution' of the late eleventh and twelfth century spurred churchmen to imagine a new world of Catholic unity under papal guidance. This new world would aim to unify all Christians, most especially eastern Christians, under the Supreme Pontiff and to bring Jews, Muslims, and pagans under his wing as converts to Christianity. The book takes us through a dazzling array of thinkers, always putting their thoughts in political and military context. Whalen's readings of more obscure authors are always enlightening, and his writing is lucid. This book will enjoy a very wide readership. (William Chester Jordan, Princeton University)Whalen's accomplishment is to take a synoptic view of western Christian apocalyptic thought and propaganda from roughly 1050 until 1350 in terms of one central theme: bringing Jews, Greeks, and Saracens into one 'sheepfold' under the ministry of one 'shepherd,' the Roman pope. He offers virtually encyclopedic coverage of the vast number of prophecies from the period. This is a major contribution to the interpretation of medieval and western Christian history, and I enthusiastically recommend it. (Robert E. Lerner, Northwestern University)In this clearly written, forcefully argued volume, Brett Whalen demonstrates that medieval thinkers influenced by the apocalyptic tradition saw the expansion of Christendom as the driving force of history. The end result would be the conversion of all mankind, the defeat of Antichrist, and the restoration of Jerusalem to Christian hands.Dominion of Godilluminates this powerful medieval vision. (James Muldoon, author ofPopes, Lawyers, and Infidels)