An edition of "Donation of Constantine" and "Constitutum Constantini" (2007)
"Donation of Constantine" and "Constitutum Constantini"
The Misinterpretation of a Fiction And Its Original Meaning (Millennium Studies 3) (Millennium-Studien / Millinnium Studies)
By Johannes Fried
Publish Date
January 30, 2007
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter
Language
eng
Pages
201
Description:
The Donation of Constantine is the most outrageous and powerful forgery in world history. The question of its precise time of origin alone kept generations of researchers occupied. But, what exactly is the Donation of Constantine? To find the answer, it is necessary to approach the question on two different semantic levels: First, as the Constitutum Constantini, a fictitious privilege, in which, among other things, rights and presents were bestowed on the catholic church by a grateful Emperor Konstantin. Secondly, as a reflection of the Middle Age mindset, becoming part of the culture landscape midway through 11th century A.D. The author not only reinterprets the origin of this forgery (i.e. puts it down to the Franks' opposition of Emperor Louis the Pious), but retells, as well, the history of its misinterpretation since the High Middle Ages. In an appendix, all relevant texts are printed in the original language, an English translation is provided.