Summary Isabel Alfonso is one of the finest scholars on the rural and political history of the European Middle Ages. She is widely known for her contributions to the study of the peasantry, social conflict, and political discourses. Her research has transcended the boundaries of medieval studies, incorporating insights from disciplines beyond including legal anthropology, philology, and discourse analysis, among others. Over her academic career Isabel Alfonso has made a continued effort to make the work of international scholars known in Spain and to communicate advancements in Spanish historiography to international audiences; and yet most of her own research has only been published in Spanish. As a means to acknowledge her long-standing commitment to bridge different historiographies and overcome national boundaries, this unusual Festschrift offers a selection of her most relevant publications, many of which appear in English for the very first time. Each paper is preceded by commentaries by leading scholars that discuss the enduring relevance of Isabel Alfonso,s work, its richness and complexity, and its potential to inspire further research along a vast array of lines. Commentaries by Jean Birrell, Fran ois Bougard, Warren Brown, Peter Coss, Wendy Davies, Chris Dyer, Ros Faith, Fran ois Foronda, Paul Freedman, Piotr Gor cki, John Hudson, Andr Evangelista Marques, Jes s Rodr guez-Velasco, Phillipp Schofield, Stephen D. White, Chris Wickham. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abbreviations, Foreword Introduction: Dealing with the Past, Dealing with the Present: Yet another talk with Isabel Alfonso Part I: Medieval Minds: Language and Concepts Chapter 1: On Friendship, with a Commentary by Fran ois Foronda Amicitia: Early Writings, a Revelation, and the Identity of a Historian On Amicitia in Medieval Spain: A Document that Merits Study Chapter 2: On the Language and Practice of Negotiation, with a Commentary by Wendy Davies Commentary The Language and Practice of Negotiation in Medieval Conflict Resolution (Castile-Le n, Eleventh-Thirteenth Centuries) Chapter 3: On Judicial Rhetoric and Political Legitimation, with a Commentary by John Hudson Justice, Power, and Legitimation Judicial Rhetoric and Political Legitimation in Medieval Le n-Castile Chapter 4: On Memory and Identity, with a Commentary by Piotr G recki Words, Again? Memory and Identity in Judicial pesquisas in Medieval Leon-Castile Chapter 5: Two Approaches to Justice and Vengeance, with a Commentary by Stephen D. White Commentary Vengeance, Justice, and Political Struggle in Castilian Medieval Historiography Vengeance and Justice in the Poem of the Cid Part II: Community Ties and Social Differenciation 200 Chapter 6: On Social Differentiation in Rural Communities, with a Commentary by Christopher Dyer Middlemen and Intermediaries in Medieval Village Society Local Power and Internal Differentiation in the Rural Communities of Galicia Chapter 7: On Social Differentiation within Rural Communities, with a Commentary by Phillipp R. Schofield Commentary Exploring Difference within Rural Communities in the Northern Iberian Kingdoms, 1000-1300 Part III: Conflict and Competition: from Local Disputes to Political Struggles Chapter 8: On Violence, with a Commentary by Andr Evangelista Marques The Social Logic of Vengeance: Towards a Reading of Isabel Alfonso,s Work on Conflict Resolution Death without Vengeance? The Regulation of Violence in Local Settings (Castile-Le n 13th c.) Chapter 9: On Peasants and the Law, with a Commentary by Paul Freedman The Historiography of Peasant Resistance to Seigneurial Authority Peasants and the Law: Legal Avenues in their Struggle (Castile and Le n, 10th-13th Centuries) Chapter 10: On Rural Churches and Peasant Struggles, with a Commentary by Chris Wickham On Rural Churches and Peasant Struggles Rural Churches in the North of Castile: A Religious Dimension to Peasant Struggles during the Middle Ages Chapter 11: Two Anthropological Approaches to Peasants and Lords, with Commentaries by Jean Birrell and Rosamond Faith A Commentary on ?Peasant Opposition to Labour Services, and ?The Rhetoric of Seigneurial Legitimation, Pacts, Conventions and Contracts between Lords and Peasants in Anglo-Norman England Peasant Opposition to Labour Services in Castile and Le n. Forms and Symbolic Significance The Rhetoric of Seigneurial Legitimation in the Fueros of Le n (11th to 13th centuries) Chapter 12: On Punishment and Exemplary Violence, with a Commentary by Warren C. Brown Commentary Corpus Delicti and Exemplary Violence Chapter 13: On Disputes and Wrongdoings, with a Commentary by Fran ois Bougard Written Disputes: Just the Tip of the Iceberg Land Disputes and malfetr as among the Medieval Nobility in Castile and Le n Chapter 14: On Revolting Noblemen, with a Commentary by Fran ois Foronda Questioning the Evidence: Political History and Social Mentality Desheredamiento and Desafuero, or the Alleged Justification of a Revolt of the Nobility Part IV: Historians, Minds. Concepts, Language and Debates Chapter 15: On Cistercians and Feudalism, with a Commentary by Peter Coss Commentary Cistercians and Feudalism Chapter 16: Three Review Articles, with a Commentary by Jes s Rodr guez Velasco How to Read Continuity and Documentary Revelation, or Mutation and Feudal Revolution? Historical Discourse as History Naming Violence and Controlling its Legitimation Appendix: Full List of Publications by Isabel Alfonso