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What makes a hero; and how do societies shape and reshape their heroic figures over time? This book challenges static typologies of what is heroic by exploring the historical processes behind the emergence; transformation and contestation of medieval heroes. Focusing on Sweden; Finland; Prussia and the Baltic regions; the book's contributions examine the earliest moments in which historical figures became enshrined—or condemned—in chronicles; hagiographies and administrative records. This study offers a longue durée perspective on the fluid nature of what is heroic; demonstrating that neither the hero nor their negation is ever absolute—but always historically contingent.

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eng

Freely available e-book