This book touches as much on the nature of the Roman Empire as it does on its historical legacy and, more importantly so, on who claims the latter inheritance throughout the most diverse epochs. By discussing some highly contrasting views upon this topic, contributions explore issues that are of fundamental importance to the writing, not only of cultural history, but also of history itself.

The writings translated in this volume cover the foundational and maturing periods of Victorine Christology during the 1130s to the 1150s when Hugh of St Victor championed the paradigm of the “assumed man” (homo assumptus)and Robert of Melun advanced his Christology into the most comprehensive treatment in the twelfth century.