Bishop Torhthelm’s letter to Boniface

Darby, Peter

Abstract

In c. 738, Saint Boniface distributed a circular letter to a broad audience of ecclesiastics in England. One response to that letter survives, written by Torhthelm, bishop of the Middle Angles (737-764). The letter is written in an allusive style and borrows heavily from its main source: Pope Vitalian’s letter to Oswiu, king of Northumbria. This essay offers a comprehensive study of Torhthelm’s letter and sheds light upon the culture of letter writing in early medieval Mercia. The analysis also deepens our understanding of the relationship between that kingdom and the continental mission during Æthelbald’s reign.

Citation

Darby, P. (2025). Bishop Torhthelm’s letter to Boniface. Early Medieval Europe, 33(2), 244-273. https://doi.org/10.1111/emed.12764

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Apr 21, 2025
• Publication Date: 2025-05
• Deposit Date: Feb 7, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 7, 2025
• Journal: Early Medieval Europe
• Print ISSN: 0963-9462
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-0254
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 244-273
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/emed.12764
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/45041709
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emed.12764