The Popes and the Papacy in the Early Middle Ages (Routledge Revivals)

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The book challenges the prevailing perception of the early medieval papacy as a well-planned monarchy, suggesting instead that its rise to power was shaped by a series of historical accidents. Jeffrey Richards contends that while the papacy's influence expanded during this period, it did so without a unified or intentional strategy. This critical examination, originally published in 1979, invites readers to reconsider the complexities of papal history beyond ideological interpretations.