2013 Programme
EVENT #23
Alessandro Barbero
Incredible Middle Ages: The ius primae noctis
The ancient practice of ius primae noctis (droit du seigneur, literally “the right of the first night”) has proved very useful to novelists and screenplay writers lacking ideas and has played an important role in some popular novels set in the Middle Ages – from K. Follett to I. Falcones – and in such blockbuster movies as Braveheart. Nobody seems to find it absurd that in a deeply Christian society, and at a time when the Church was launching a massive attempt at controlling people's behaviour and family life, Medieval lords and masters were entitled to the virginity of young brides without it being perceived as violence. But did our ancestors really accept such humiliating abuse? And if so, then why do countless documents from the period (lawyer's memoranda, trial minutes and proceedings as well as novels) describe in full detail the peasants' claims against their lords, but never discuss the ius primae noctis?
Alessandro Barbero, historian and writer, is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Eastern Piedmont and Vercelli. He contributes to the programmes “Passato e presente” and “a.C.d.C.” aired on Rai Storia. Since 2023 he has been the star of the programme “In viaggio con Barbero”, on LA7. In the same year he started for Chora Media “Chiedilo a Barbero”, a podcast in which he answers questions on history sent in by listeners. Among his publications: “Le parole del papa” (2016), “Caporetto” (2017), “Dante” (2020), 2All' arme! All'arme. I priori fanno carne” (2023), published by Laterza; “Gli occhi di Venezia” (2011) and “Le Ateniesi” (2015), published by Mondadori; “Costantino il vincitore” (Salerno, 2016); “Il divano di Istanbul” (2011), “Alabama” (2021), “Poeta al comando” (2022) and “Brick for stone” (2023), published by Sellerio.
EVENT #18
Stefano Bartezzaghi, Massimo Recalcati
To inherit or to be creative? Art in the time of disoriented generations
