在传统与革新之间:麦克法兰史学思想及其影响

Between Tradition and Innovation: K. B. McFarlane's Historical Thought and Its Influence

鉴于辉格史学传统在中世纪英格兰政治史研究中的进步史观缺陷,通过对历史唯物主义、群体人物学等理路的借鉴,麦克法兰重构了“变态封建主义”概念,借此系统分析了中世纪的英格兰贵族阶层、社会政治秩序。这促成了西方学界对传统宪政史学的摒弃,以及对这种新范式的接受,进而对中世纪英格兰的政治史研究产生了深刻影响,尤其表现在十五世纪的英格兰和地方乡绅阶层得到应有重视。但麦氏的史学思想也存在诸如“对思想原则的忽视”“严重的史学碎片化倾向”“以国王为中心的史学观”等缺陷,并为后世学者所延续。随着史学理路的革新,卡彭特倡导的新宪政史应运而生。它要求重新审视中央机构的作用,同时从梅特兰的法律史传统中汲取营养。不过,新宪政史也是麦氏影响力的进一步彰显。

In the political history of medieval England,Whig historiography presented the defect of linear and progressive flow.K.B.McFarlane therefore reconstructed the concept of bastard feudalism as an important theoretical framework for the political history of medieval England through the reference of historical materialism,classical feudalism and the prosopography.McFarlane regarded“bastard feudalism”as a social phenomenon prevailing in the late Middle Ages,with retinue as the carrier and money as the link.He analyzed the class division of the nobility in medieval England,and interpreted the overall appearance of the nobility from the perspectives of war,land inheritance,family life,etc.,showing the image of the nobility group different from that depicted by traditional constitutional historians.He also reinterpreted the social order of late medieval England,emphasizing that as a new feudal system to consolidate the concept of territorial sovereignty and loyalty,the emergence of“bastard feudalism”helped to maintain the social order.McFarlane's research contributed to the rejection of traditional constitutional historiography and the acceptance of this new paradigm which had an important impact on the study of political history of medieval England.On the one hand,the fifteenth century has received due attention,and the number of scholars in this field has been increasing year by year,and has produced fruitful academic achievements.On the other hand,the local gentry class has been given due attention since McFarlane,which enables the academic community to understand the details and diversity of the local political society.However,there are many defects in his historical thought.In the interpretation of the retinue,McFarlane paid too much attention to the material reward with money as the core,and ignored the necessity of ideological principles.The overemphasis on patronage and personal interests made McFarlane and his followers reluctant to think about the structure of government and power behind political events,resulting in the lack of comprehensive research in contemporary medieval England history.McFarlane's interpretation of medieval politics still centered on the king,emphasizing that the king plays an important role in the success or failure of the rule.With the reform of historical theory,the new constitutional history advocated by Christine Carpenter came into being.The new constitutional history,setting against the world known and grappled with by its protagonists in the late Middle Ages,calls for a re-examination of the role of central institutions,drawing on the traditions of Maitland s legal history.However,the new constitutional history is also a further manifestation of McFarlane's influence,especially as it emphasizes on public rights and the interpretation and application of the concept of“bastard feudalism”.In short,the understanding and interpretation of McFarlane's historical thought can clearly show the process of the continuous development and reflection of historical research.