"Donation of Constantine" and "Constitutum Constantini"
Subtitle: The Misinterpretation of a Fiction And Its Original Meaning (Millennium Studies 3) (Millennium-Studien / Millinnium Studies)
Contributors: Wolfram Brandes (Contributor)
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
Published: January 30, 2007
Language: eng; lat
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 201
ISBN-13: 9783110185393
Subjects: European history: c 500 to c 1500; Hoaxes & deceptions; World history: c 500 to C 1500; Literary Criticism; Europe; Reference; General
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.