In the last decade the bishops of the tenth and eleventh centuries, long treated rather dismissively as secondary figures on the historical stage, has expanded greatly. This paper aims to provide an overview not only of the papers that follow but of some other recent work on the topic, to allow contextualisation. Traditionally, bishops of this period have been principally treated as political figures, particularly in relation to rulers but also as local lords; new approaches to the subject, focusing on the ability of bishops to exercise authority, continue to explore political aspects but also allow the spiritual authority of bishops to be considered and even more intimate areas such as their family background and upbringing. Bishops could express claims to authority through prayer, historical writings and charters.