This class will look at a range of authority figures in the medieval West, from emperors to mothers, to consider how these authors approached their audiences to construct legitimate authority. The course will consider how authors wrote of money, morality, military issues, political and family relationships, and law in various genres as they worked to rule their kingdoms or their families. An important sub-theme of the course will be the use of humility to create political, spiritual, and even military authority. Since the class emphasizes the ways these authors constructed their messages, including genre, assignments in the course will explore the construction of various modern written genres, such as email and advertising.