Urbs ohne Urbanitas: Die Londoner Stadtbeschreibung von William Fitzstephen, eine Adelsutopie

William Fitzstephen prefaces his Vita of the recently martyred Archbishop Thomas Becket with a lengthy description of the city of London. The praise of the city goes well beyond the conventional encomium urbis to detail many and varied activities of the citizens. While his purpose remains unclear, his accomplishment is a vividly described utopia of the nobility whose values are those of an agonal, charismatic culture. In studies, sports, pastimes, and in the creation of a fictional past, competition, fame and victory are the dominant perspectives, while urbanity, civility and courtliness play next to no role.