This study examines the role of written agreements in eleventh- and twelfth-century Catalonia, and how they determined the social and political order. By tracing the fate of these agreements - or convenientiae - from their first appearance to the late twelfth century, it is possible to demonstrate the remarkable stability of the fluid structures which they engendered in what is generally thought of as 'feudal society'. The process of documentary change reveals the true nature and pace of the 'transformation of the year 1000'. Analysis of the convenientia as an instrument of power and its interaction with oral practices contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of the written word in medieval societies. Finally, a broad historiographical context establishes the significance of this study of Catalonia for a more general appreciation of the medieval Mediterranean world.

List of figures; List of tables; Acknowledgements; Notes on citations, dates and names; List of abbreviations; Map; Introduction: 1. Catalonia and its neighbours; 2. Feudalism in eleventh- and twelfth-century Catalonia; 3. The sources; 4. Historiography of the convenientia; Part I. The First Convenientia: Social and Documentary Change Around the Year 1000: 5. The documentary context; 6. Early Catalan convenientiae, c. 1021-50; 7. Convenientiae and the 'crisis' of Catalan society; Part II. Making Agreements: 8. Castle tenure and military service; 9. Structures of power in convenientiae; 10. Treaties; 11. Dispute settlement; 12. Exploiting the land; 13. Family settlements; 14. Promises; Part III. Keeping Agreements; 15. Penalty clauses; 16. Sureties; 17. Procedure; 18. Case studies: Pallars and Empúries/Rosselló; 19. Oaths; Part IV. Foundations (the Eleventh Century): 20. Counts; 21. Lay aristocracy; 22. Episcopal castles; 23. Monastic military lordship; Part V. Fortunes (the Twelfth Century): 24. Renewal; 25. Conflict; 26. Change; Part VI. Writing and power: 27. Administration; 28. The Usatges de Barcelona; 29. The Liber feudorum maior; 30. The end of the convenientia; Table of published documents; Works cited; Index of names; Subject index.