Religious figures of remembrance served to consolidate dynastic rule and later nation-state legitimacy and community. The study illuminates the interweaving of (Eastern) Roman, medieval Serbian and Bulgarian, as well as Ottoman and Western European national discourses culminating in the sacralization of the nation.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Copyright page / Stefan Rohdewald -- Figures / Stefan Rohdewald -- Restricted Access -- Chapter 1 Introduction / Stefan Rohdewald -- Restricted Access -- Chapter 2 Holy Teachers, Rulers, and Capitals – Religious Memory-Figures up to the 18th Century / Stefan Rohdewald -- Restricted Access -- Chapter 3 The Invention of European, Christian Nations to Overcome the “Asian Yoke” in the Long 19th Century / Stefan Rohdewald.

Religious figures of remembrance served to consolidate first dynastic rule and later nation-state legitimacy and community. This book explains the interweaving of (Eastern) Roman, medieval Serbian and Bulgarian contexts as well as Ottoman and Western European national discourses or reinvented traditions. We can distinguish a secularization and nationalization of the religious contexts in the 19th century within historicism, followed by a nationalization of God and a sacralization of the nation until the end of WWII. Contrary to the national views, the origins of the modern content of these discourses lie only to a very limited extent in the Middle Ages or in the Early Modern period, as this study shows. Please note, this is volume 1 of a 2-volume set. Click here to see volume 2.

Description based on print version record.