Dominance within the ecclesia: the case of late medieval Portugal

This article aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of a theoretical perspective. It argues that, in medieval society, the ecclesia, in its threefold sense (the community of the faithful, ecclesiastical hierarchies, and cult buildings) played a determinant role in organising different interlocked social relations. Thus, this role is critical to understanding the reproduction of dominant groups, whose organisation must be conceived through the ecclesia. This article is based on the Portuguese aristocracy. The historiographical production of the last few decades on different themes is synthesised and organised according to this theoretical perspective, seeking to highlight its operability and the paths it opens for a more grounded understanding of medieval social dynamics.