Political influence on late Merovingian episcopal hagiographic production and the episcopal ideal.

This study is concerned with the political influence on late Merovingian episcopal hagiographic production and with the changes in the episcopal ideal. It focuses on how key elements such as the origins of the bishop, the manner of his induction into the episcopal office and the relationship between the bishop and the monarch, respectively the relationship between the performance of episcopal duties, political involvement and service at the court, are portrayed in hagiographic production. A method of comparative analysis of late Merovingian hagiographic production associated with Saint Arnulf of Metz, Audoin of Rouen, Eligius of Noyon, Aunemund of Lyon, Leudegar of Autun, and Praejectus of Clermont was applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]