The roots of European Identity: Carolingian and Arthurian references in the postmedieval acquis mythologique

• Authors: Toczyski Piotr
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article’s research subject is Europeanisation analysed through the lens of Carolingian and Arthurian references in the postmedieval acquis mythologique. Focusing on the integration process, the author examines the prominence of Carolingian mythology and the absence of Arthurian imagery in European identity formation. Analysing the use of Carolingian and Arthurian references in the early days of the EU and during its expansion, the study explores the dichotomy between these two symbolic cultures. The author verifies a hypothesis that political communication concerning the integration process and European identity formation is based on values and symbols which refer to Charlemagne, but cultural communication resonates with King Arthur, forming an intricate acquis mythologique communautaire. This study explores early post-war Carolingian references in Western Europe (1949–1952) and subsequent appropriations in Eastern Europe (2000–2009). Whether supportive or critical, these references permanently link the idea of European unity to Charlemagne, creating a discourse where even critics tacitly accept the validity of this connection. The absence of King Arthur in the EU integration discourse prompts a call for further exploration. The author suggests that Arthurian imagery could provide a unique analytical perspective and contribute to the further deep analysis of the evolving European identity.

Keywords

EN

European identity; Carolingian mythology; Arthurian imagery; EU integration; acquis mythologique; Charlemagne; cultural communication; political communication

• Publisher: Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Studiów Międzynarodowych, Uniwersytet Warszawski
• Journal: Przegląd Europejski
• Year: 2025
• Issue: 1(75)
• Pages: 107 - 132

Dates

published

2025

Contributors

author

Toczyski Piotr

• Maria Grzegorzewska University in Warsaw

References

• ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES DU CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE – Historical archives of the Council of Europe (WWW), F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex. Le drapeau – The Flag, 2191, https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/proposals_for_european_flags_from_arsene_heitz_1952_1955-en-3c8f111a-6be6-4111-a433-20f1a7f9fdba.html (06.05.2020).
• CSÁKY Pál (2005), Speech of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Pál Csáky at the Conference on “First year experiences in the EU of the Vysegrad countries” in Bucharest on 17 May 2005, The Slovak Republic Government Office, http://www.government.gov.sk/english/aktuality_start.php3?id_ele=5564 (27.05.2005).
• DI CARPEGNA FALCONIERI Tommaso (2011), Medioevo militante. La politica di oggi alle prese con barbari e crociati. Giulio Einaudi, Torino.
• DI CARPEGNA FALCONIERI Tommaso (2019), The Militant Middle Ages: Contemporary Politics Between New Barbarians and Modern Crusaders, Brill.
• EVERSHEIM Walter (2003), A Citizens’ Prize for Distinguished Service On Behalf Of European Unification, http://www.aachen.de/DE/stadt_buerger/pdfs_stadtbuerger/pdf_karlspreis/karlspreis_03/eversheim03_en.pdf (29.06.2020).
• EUROPSKI DOM DUBROVNIK (2009), Roland’s European paths, http://www.edd.hr/en/roland.html (1.05.2009).
• GERNER Kristian (1999), King Arthur, Charlemagne and Soros: Aggression and Integration in Europe, “Yearbook of European Studies”, vol. 11. DOI: 10.1163/9789004617902_007
• GISCARD D'ESTAING Valéry (2003), Speech by V. Giscard d'Estaing, Chairman of the European Convention, Charlemagne Prize, Aachen, 29 May 2003, http://european-convention.europa.eu/docs/speeches/9190.pdf (29.06.2020).
• GULLEFORD Ken (2000), Prime Minister Blair, young Leo and the Charlemagne Prize, http://www.bullen.demon.co.uk/charl.htm (18.08.2000).
• JUNG Carl Gustav (1969), The concept of the collective unconscious, in: Carl Gustav Jung, The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Volume 9 (Part 1): Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, Princeton.
• KØLVRAA Christoffer (2016), European fantasies: on the EU's political myths and the affective potential of utopian imaginaries for European identity, “JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies”, vol. 54(1). DOI: 10.1111/jcms.12325
• LARAT Fabrice (2005), Present-ing the past: political narratives on European history and the justification of EU integration, “German Law Journal”, vol. 6, no. 2. DOI: 10.1017/S2071832200013638
• LARAT Fabrice (2006), L’Europe a la recherche d’une figure tutelaire, “Politique européenne”, no. 1.
• MAAS Albert, SERVAIS Albert, VAN DER VELDEN Johannes Josef, MÜLLER Wilhelm, PFEIFFER Kurt, HEUSCH Hermann, KRAUSS Franz, KUHNEN Ludwig, MENNICKEN Peter, NIEUWENHUYSEN Carel, SCHLAPP Erasmus, SCHRADER Jean Louis (1949), Proclamation 1949, http://www.aachen.de/EN/sb/pr_az/karls_pr/proclamation/index.html (18.09.2020).
• MARÁCZ László (1999), Guarding the Hungarian Language and Identity in the New Europe: ‘The Nation Lives in Its Language’, “Yearbook of European Studies”, vol. 11. DOI: 10.1163/9789004617902_008
• McMAHON Richard (2017), Religion, civilisation, geography: normative EU studies and Eastern enlargement, “Journal of Contemporary European Studies”, vol. 25(3). DOI: 10.1080/14782804.2017.1351927
• PERCHOC Philippe (2017), Brussels: What European urban narrative?, “Journal of Contemporary European Studies”, vol. 25(3). DOI: 10.1080/14782804.2017.1351928
• PRISACARIU Ioana-Sabina (2007), The Symbols Role in the Creation of a European Identity, Dissertation Paper, February 2007, The Centre for European Studies in Regional Development, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași. DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/fxuh8
• SCHRÖDER Gerhard (2000), Laudation by von Gerhard Schröder, Der Internationale Karlspreis zu Aachen, https://www.karlspreis.de/en/laureates/william-jefferson-bill-clinton-2000/laudation-by-von-gerhard-schroeder (29.06.2020).
• TOCZYSKI Piotr (2006), The Polish Arthurianism’s Multiple Traditions, Presentation for the fourth annual Conference for Medieval Studies: (Re)Imagining Arthur: Cultural and Theoretical Contexts of the Arthurian Legends, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
• TOCZYSKI Piotr (2009), Carolingian references in the Europeanization Process, in: What, in the World, is Medievalism? Global Reinvention of the Middle Ages (A Panel Discussion), 44th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo.
• TOCZYSKI Piotr (2018), Post-War and Post-Communist Poland and European Knightly Myths of Loyalty and Betrayal: Pasikowski’s Acquis Mythologique Communautaire, in: Gelinada Grinchenko, Eleonora Narvselius (eds), Traitors, Collaborators and Deserters in Contemporary European Politics of Memory, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-66496-5_16
• TOCZYSKI Piotr (2021), Pan-European institutions and new media: pan-European or counter-pan-European media usage?, “Postmodern Openings”, vol. 12(1).
• VON HENTIG Hans (1952), Karl der Grosse und Koks, “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, 05.01.1952, no. 4, https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/charlemagne_and_coke_from_the_frankfurter_allgemeine_zeitung_5_january_1952-en-7dc178c9-ddfd-416d-8106-b14229d2d59d.html (29.06.2020).