Early mechanisms of abbatial succession: the case of Iona (563–704)

Comments about succession to the Iona abbacy rarely go beyond observation that most of early abbots – but not all belonged Cenél Conaill, kindred Iona’s founder, Saint Columba. This point privileges role eligibility criteria in process at expense agency. paper concerns itself with specific mechanism mediated abbacy: central question is ‘who’ could succeed, rather ‘how’ they succeeded. It will be suggested abbatial authority was passed from one abbot next via designations, whereby reigning appointed his own successor.