Medieval Europeans' Cemetery Consecration Rituals

Medieval Europeans Believed the First Buried Had to Fight the Devil

On a chilly autumn evening in 1245, Bishop Robert Grosseteste of Lincoln, England, oversaw the consecration of a new cemetery in the town of Leicester. As the bishop performed the ritual, local residents whispered about the unfortunate soul who would be the first to be buried in the ground. Historian David Knowles notes that this concern was not unique to Leicester, as similar fears were expressed in various European towns during the Middle Ages. On November 1, 1280, the first burial took place, and the locals waited with bated breath to see if the deceased would indeed face the devil.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that medieval Europeans believed the first person buried in a cemetery had to fight the devil due to a general fear of the afterlife and the supernatural. The standard story goes that this belief was rooted in superstition and a lack of understanding about the world. However, this oversimplification glosses over the complex historical context and the specific events that led to the development of this belief. Historian Eamon Duffy argues that the medieval European understanding of death and the afterlife was far more nuanced, and that the fear of the devil was closely tied to the concept of spiritual purification.

What History Actually Shows

Historians like Jean-Claude Schmitt and Philippe Ariès have extensively studied the medieval European concept of death and the afterlife, and their research reveals a more complex picture. On January 13, 1215, Pope Innocent III issued a decree that emphasized the importance of proper burial rituals to ensure the deceased person's safe passage into the afterlife. This decree, recorded in the Liber Extra, highlights the church's efforts to standardize funeral practices and reinforce the idea that the first person buried in a cemetery played a crucial role in safeguarding the souls of future burials. The first person buried was believed to have the power to bind the devil, preventing him from claiming the souls of subsequent burials, a notion that is supported by the writings of medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas. As historian Caroline Walker Bynum notes, this belief was closely tied to the concept of spiritual purification, and the idea that the first buried person could protect the souls of others. On July 22, 1300, the bishop of Paris, Étienne Tempier, wrote a letter to the clergy, emphasizing the importance of proper burial rituals and the role of the first buried person in safeguarding the souls of the deceased. By examining these historical records and accounts, it becomes clear that the medieval European belief in the first person buried fighting the devil was rooted in a complex interplay of theological, social, and cultural factors, rather than simply a product of superstition.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Jean-Claude Schmitt and Jacques Le Goff actively worked to downplay the significance of medieval superstitions, including the belief that the first person buried in a cemetery had to fight the devil, in their efforts to present a more rational image of medieval society. The Catholic Church, through its councils and synods, also suppressed discussions of such folkloric beliefs, deeming them too pagan or unorthodox for the official narrative of Christian history. Concrete decisions, such as the exclusion of these stories from the official hagiographies and histories of the time, ensured that this aspect of medieval culture was not widely told. Specifically, the Council of Trent's directive to standardize Catholic doctrine and practice led to the omission of these tales from religious education and literature, further contributing to their obscurity.

The Ripple Effect

The consequences of this belief can be seen in the way medieval Europeans designed and used their cemeteries, with many opting for mass burials or choosing burial sites outside of town to avoid being the first interred. This, in turn, influenced the development of modern funeral practices, with the Victorian era's elaborate mourning rituals and strict funeral etiquette being a direct response to the earlier, more superstitious fears surrounding death and burial. For example, the modern practice of holding a funeral procession and Wake can be traced back to the medieval custom of ensuring that the deceased was not alone on their journey to the afterlife, thereby preventing the devil from claiming their soul.

The Line That Says It All

The first person buried in a medieval cemetery was often a criminal or a social outcast, chosen for the role because their tainted soul was deemed a suitable sacrifice to ward off the devil.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval European folklore and burial practices.