Miracles, Political Authority and Violence in Medieval and Early Modern History

This book provides case studies which together show students and researchers alike the benefit of taking beliefs about the supernatural as an important factor in accounting for political authority and beliefs about warfare.

Although contributions mainly focus on medieval and early modern Europe, the early chapters reach into antiquity and the later ones into modernity exploring how these claims continue to influence military epistemology, the interpretation of conflict and the decision that life-taking is just.

This book provides medieval and early modern history students and researchers with an understanding of religion and conflict and of the enduring role of beliefs about the supernatural in the construction of authority and the conduct of war.