"Donation of Constantine" and "Constitutum Constantini": The Misinterpretation of a Fiction and its Original Meaning. With a contribution by Wolfram Brandes: "The Satraps of Constantine"

Johannes Fried

book: "Donation of Constantine" and "Constitutum Constantini"

Open Access Published by De Gruyter 2007

"Donation of Constantine" and "Constitutum Constantini"

The Misinterpretation of a Fiction and its Original Meaning. With a contribution by Wolfram Brandes: "The Satraps of Constantine"

Johannes Fried

Volume 3 in the series Millennium-Studien / Millennium Studies

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110902235

Overview
Contents

About this book

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 11^th 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.

Author / Editor information

Johannes Fried, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Reviews

"Das jüngste Buch des Frankfurter Mediävisten Fried fasziniert durch den energischen Zugriff, in dem ein neuer methodischer Ansatz für die Forschung fruchtbar gemacht und manches eingefahrene Urteil revidiert wird."
Volker Leppin in: Das Mittelalter 2/2009

"This book could be characterised as a collection of lectures with a stimulating discussion of individual and collective memory on the Donation of Constantine and the origin of the Constitutum. [...] Fried has not settled the argument but he makes an important contribution to a debate which will long continue."
Przemyslaw Nowak in: The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 2/2008

"The Donation of Constantine is a clear cut example of how historical fiction can enter public memory and, fed by various powers, stay there for centuries. [...] Fried has provided a book of great value not only to specialists in the matter, but also to less specialized readers, definitely a milestone in this specific field of research."
Jan Nelis in: BMCR 2008.02.21

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	i
Preface Open Access Download PDF	vii
Contents Open Access Download PDF	ix
I. Introduction Open Access Download PDF	1
II. The “Donation of Constantine” Open Access Download PDF	7
III. The origin and fate of the “Donation of Constantine” in the High Middle Ages Open Access Download PDF	11
IV. The wording and meaning of the “Constitutum Constantini” Open Access Download PDF	35
V. The origin of the “Constitutum Constantini” Open Access Download PDF	53
VI. The date and context of the composition of the “Constitutum Constantini” Open Access Download PDF	73
VII. Conclusions Open Access Download PDF	111
Appendix A: The Satraps of Constantine Wolfram Brandes Open Access Download PDF	115
Appendix B: Sources Open Access Download PDF	129
Appendix C: Bibliography Open Access Download PDF	155
Appendix D: Index of Ancient and Medieval Persons Open Access Download PDF	189
Appendix E: Plates Open Access Download PDF	197

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academics (Byzantine History), Academic Departments, Libraries
Pages
- Main content: 201
Illustrations
- Other: 6 plates
Keywords: Middle Ages; Donation of Constantine

eBook

Published: February 13, 2012
ISBN: 9783110902235

Hardcover

Published: June 18, 2007
ISBN: 9783110185393