Pseudo-Isidore is the conventional name for the unknown Carolingian-era author (or authors) behind an extensive corpus of influential forgeries. Pseudo-Isidore's main object was to provide accused bishops with an array of legal protections amounting to de facto immunity from trial and conviction; to secure episcopal autonomy within the diocese; and to defend the integrity of church property. The forgeries accomplished this goal, in part, by aiming to expand the legal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome.[1]
Pseudo-Isidore worked in the second quarter of the ninth-century, in the archiepiscopal province of Reims. A likely candidate is an ordination of Ebbo, then archbishop of Rheims. His sympathies lay with the rank-and-file Frankish episcopate. Decades of royally sponsored church reform had contributed substantially to the prominence and political importance of Frankish bishops; it also contributed to their legal vulnerability, as the reign of Louis I the Pious saw a series of sensational episcopal trials and depositions. Pseudo-Isidore was also heir to a long tradition of Carolingian church reform, and his forgeries also include a wide array of themes reflecting Frankish liturgical, doctrinal, educational and administrative aspirations.[2]
Contentedit
A major constituent of Pseudo-Isidore's output consists of a collection of forged capitulary legislation ascribed to Charlemagne and Louis the Pious. These False Capitularies, which consist mostly of excerpts from genuine biblical, patristic and legal sources, are false primarily in the sense that almost none of them were ever promulgated by the Frankish kings. Among the many genuine items are also select forged capitula that advance the Pseudo-Isidorian program. In a preface, the pseudonymous compiler, Benedictus Levita (Benedict the Deacon) claims that he found these neglected capitularies in the archives of the cathedral at Mainz; and that the former Archbishop Otgar of Mainz ordered him to collect this material for posterity. Because Benedict seems to acknowledge that Otgar is dead at the time of his writing, it has been possible to date his preface to the years after 847.[3]
Pseudo-Isidore also developed a small series of more minor forgeries which we find as appendices in manuscripts of the False Decretals. These include the Capitula Angilramni, a brief collection on criminal procedure allegedly given to Bishop Angilram of Metz by Pope Hadrian I; and a series of excerpts from the Rusticus version of the Council of Chalcedon.[4]
Authorshipedit
The names assumed by Pseudo-Isidore, including Isidorus Mercator (conflated from the names of Isidore of Seville and Marius Mercator).[5]Klaus Zechiel-Eckes claims that Pseudo-Isidore did important research at the library of the monastery of Corbie, in the Reims suffragan diocese of Amiens.[6]
Zechiel-Eckes believed that the prominent theologian and abbot of Corbie, Paschasius Radbertus (abbot 842–847) was to be identified with Pseudo-Isidore; and that the earliest phase of work on the forgeries, amounting to a subset of the False Decretals, was completed in the later 830s.[7] These theories once commanded wide support, but today they are increasingly disputed. Eric Knibbs has argued that older, traditional dating schemes, which placed the False Decretals in the 840s or early 850s, were essentially correct. Several decretal forgeries contain material that aims to justify Ebo in his episcopal translation to the bishopric at Hildesheim after 845.[8] It has also emerged that the decretal forgeries incorporate many items from a mid-ninth-century Corbie manuscript of the works of Ennodius of Pavia, which would seem to preclude any dates for the decretal forgeries substantially before the 840s.[9]
Manuscriptsedit
Well over a hundred medieval manuscripts containing Pseudo-Isidorian material survive. The vast majority—around 100—carry copies of the False Decretals.[10]
Influenceedit
The final proof of forgery was provided by Calvinist preacher David Blondel, who discovered that the popes from the early centuries quoted extensively from much-later authors and published his findings (Pseudoisidorus et Turrianus vapulantes) in 1628.[1]
^Knibbs, Eric (2017). "Ebo of Reims, Pseudo-Isidore and the Date of the False Decretals". Speculum. 92: 154–156. doi:10.1086/689411. S2CID 164338866.
^Paul Hinschius, Decretales Pseudo-Isidorianae (1863) p. ccviii-ccxiii.
^Ed. J.-B. Pitra, Spicilegium Solesmense, vol. 4, from p. 166, ascribed to the African bishop Verecundus.
^Schaff, Philip. "Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals and Other Forgeries". New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. IX: Petri - Reuchlin. Hosted at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
^Zechiel-Eckes, Klaus. "Ein Blick in Pseudoisidors Werkstatt: Studien zum Entstehungsprozeß der Falschen Dekretalen mit einem exemplarischen editorischen Anhang", Francia 28 (2001), pp. 37–90.
^Zechiel-Eckes, K. (2002). "Auf Pseudoisidors Spur, Fortschritt durch Fälschungen?". MGH Studien und Texte31. p. 1ff.
^Knibbs, Eric (2017). "Ebo of Reims, Pseudo-Isidore, and the Date of the False Decretals" (PDF). Speculum. 92: 144–183. doi:10.1086/689411. S2CID 164338866.
^Eric Knibbs, "Pseudo-Isidore's Ennodius", Deutsches Archiv 74 (2018) pp. 1–52.
^An incomplete overview listing 80 manuscripts can be found in: Williams, Schafer (1973). Codices Pseudo-Isidoriani, A Palaegraphico-Historical Study, Monumenta Iuris Canonici. Series C. Volume 3.
Further readingedit
Fuhrmann, Horst. (1972–73). Einfluß und Verbreitung der pseudoisidorischen Fälschungen. Schriften der Monumenta Germaniae Historica 24/I–III (1972–73).
Fuhrmann, Horst. "The Pseudo-Isidorian Forgeries", in Wilfried Hartmann and Kenneth Pennington, eds. Papal Letters in the Early Middle Ages. History of Medieval Canon Law (2001), p. 135–195.
Harder, Clara. Pseudoisidor und das Papsttum: Funktion und Bedeutung des aposotlischen Stuhls in den pseudoisidorischen Fälschungen (Cologne, 2014).
Hartmann, Wilfried and Gerhard Schmitz, eds. Fortschritt durch Fälschungen? Ursprung, Gestalt und Wirkungen der pseudoisidorischen Fälschungen. MGH Studien und Texte 31 (2002).
Knibbs, Eric. "Ebo of Reims, Pseudo-Isidore and the Date of the False Decretals," Speculum 92 (2017), p. 144–183.
Knibbs, Eric. "Pseudo-Isidore's Ennodius," Deutsches Archiv 74 (2018), p. 1–52.
Patzold, Steffen. Gefälschtes Recht aus dem Frühmittelalter: Untersuchungen zur Herstellung und Überlieferung der pseudoisidorischen Dekretalen (2015).
Schon, Karl-Georg. DieCapitula Angilramni: Eine prozessrechtliche Fälschung Pseudoisidors. MGH Studien und Texte 39 (2006).
Ubl, Karl and Daniel Ziemann, eds. Fälschung als Mittel der Politik? Pseudoisidor im Licht der neuen Forschung. MGH Studien und Texte 57 (2015).
Zechiel-Eckes, Klaus. “Ein Blick in Pseudoisidors Werkstatt: Studien zum Entstehungsprozeß der Falschen Dekretalen mit einem exemplarischen editorischen Anhang,” Francia 28 (2001), p. 37–90.
Zechiel-Eckes, Klaus. Fälschung als Mittel politischer Auseinandersetzung: Ludwig der Fromme (814–840) und die Genese der pseudoisidorischen Dekretalen (2011).
External linksedit
The False Capitularies of Benedictus Levita, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. (in German and Latin).
"Opera Omnia" by Migne Patrologia Latina, with analytical indexes. (in Latin)
April 11, 2024
pseudo, isidore, this, article, about, century, forger, 12th, century, chronicler, chronica, gothorum, pseudoisidoriana, conventional, name, unknown, carolingian, author, authors, behind, extensive, corpus, influential, forgeries, main, object, provide, accuse. This article is about the 9th century forger For the 12th century chronicler see Chronica Gothorum Pseudoisidoriana Pseudo Isidore is the conventional name for the unknown Carolingian era author or authors behind an extensive corpus of influential forgeries Pseudo Isidore s main object was to provide accused bishops with an array of legal protections amounting to de facto immunity from trial and conviction to secure episcopal autonomy within the diocese and to defend the integrity of church property The forgeries accomplished this goal in part by aiming to expand the legal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome 1 Contents 1 Historical background 2 Content 3 Authorship 4 Manuscripts 5 Influence 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistorical background editPseudo Isidore worked in the second quarter of the ninth century in the archiepiscopal province of Reims A likely candidate is an ordination of Ebbo then archbishop of Rheims His sympathies lay with the rank and file Frankish episcopate Decades of royally sponsored church reform had contributed substantially to the prominence and political importance of Frankish bishops it also contributed to their legal vulnerability as the reign of Louis I the Pious saw a series of sensational episcopal trials and depositions Pseudo Isidore was also heir to a long tradition of Carolingian church reform and his forgeries also include a wide array of themes reflecting Frankish liturgical doctrinal educational and administrative aspirations 2 Content editA major constituent of Pseudo Isidore s output consists of a collection of forged capitulary legislation ascribed to Charlemagne and Louis the Pious These False Capitularies which consist mostly of excerpts from genuine biblical patristic and legal sources are false primarily in the sense that almost none of them were ever promulgated by the Frankish kings Among the many genuine items are also select forged capitula that advance the Pseudo Isidorian program In a preface the pseudonymous compiler Benedictus Levita Benedict the Deacon claims that he found these neglected capitularies in the archives of the cathedral at Mainz and that the former Archbishop Otgar of Mainz ordered him to collect this material for posterity Because Benedict seems to acknowledge that Otgar is dead at the time of his writing it has been possible to date his preface to the years after 847 3 Pseudo Isidore also developed a small series of more minor forgeries which we find as appendices in manuscripts of the False Decretals These include the Capitula Angilramni a brief collection on criminal procedure allegedly given to Bishop Angilram of Metz by Pope Hadrian I and a series of excerpts from the Rusticus version of the Council of Chalcedon 4 Authorship editThe names assumed by Pseudo Isidore including Isidorus Mercator conflated from the names of Isidore of Seville and Marius Mercator 5 Klaus Zechiel Eckes claims that Pseudo Isidore did important research at the library of the monastery of Corbie in the Reims suffragan diocese of Amiens 6 Zechiel Eckes believed that the prominent theologian and abbot of Corbie Paschasius Radbertus abbot 842 847 was to be identified with Pseudo Isidore and that the earliest phase of work on the forgeries amounting to a subset of the False Decretals was completed in the later 830s 7 These theories once commanded wide support but today they are increasingly disputed Eric Knibbs has argued that older traditional dating schemes which placed the False Decretals in the 840s or early 850s were essentially correct Several decretal forgeries contain material that aims to justify Ebo in his episcopal translation to the bishopric at Hildesheim after 845 8 It has also emerged that the decretal forgeries incorporate many items from a mid ninth century Corbie manuscript of the works of Ennodius of Pavia which would seem to preclude any dates for the decretal forgeries substantially before the 840s 9 Manuscripts editWell over a hundred medieval manuscripts containing Pseudo Isidorian material survive The vast majority around 100 carry copies of the False Decretals 10 Influence editThe final proof of forgery was provided by Calvinist preacher David Blondel who discovered that the popes from the early centuries quoted extensively from much later authors and published his findings Pseudoisidorus et Turrianus vapulantes in 1628 1 References edit a b CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA False Decretals www newadvent org Retrieved 2023 06 16 Knibbs Eric 2017 Ebo of Reims Pseudo Isidore and the Date of the False Decretals Speculum 92 154 156 doi 10 1086 689411 S2CID 164338866 Paul Hinschius Decretales Pseudo Isidorianae 1863 p ccviii ccxiii Ed J B Pitra Spicilegium Solesmense vol 4 from p 166 ascribed to the African bishop Verecundus Schaff Philip Pseudo Isidorian Decretals and Other Forgeries New Schaff Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge Vol IX Petri Reuchlin Hosted at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Zechiel Eckes Klaus Ein Blick in Pseudoisidors Werkstatt Studien zum Entstehungsprozess der Falschen Dekretalen mit einem exemplarischen editorischen Anhang Francia 28 2001 pp 37 90 Zechiel Eckes K 2002 Auf Pseudoisidors Spur Fortschritt durch Falschungen MGH Studien und Texte 31 p 1ff Knibbs Eric 2017 Ebo of Reims Pseudo Isidore and the Date of the False Decretals PDF Speculum 92 144 183 doi 10 1086 689411 S2CID 164338866 Eric Knibbs Pseudo Isidore s Ennodius Deutsches Archiv 74 2018 pp 1 52 An incomplete overview listing 80 manuscripts can be found in Williams Schafer 1973 Codices Pseudo Isidoriani A Palaegraphico Historical Study Monumenta Iuris Canonici Series C Volume 3 Further reading editFuhrmann Horst 1972 73 Einfluss und Verbreitung der pseudoisidorischen Falschungen Schriften der Monumenta Germaniae Historica 24 I III 1972 73 Fuhrmann Horst The Pseudo Isidorian Forgeries in Wilfried Hartmann and Kenneth Pennington eds Papal Letters in the Early Middle Ages History of Medieval Canon Law 2001 p 135 195 Harder Clara Pseudoisidor und das Papsttum Funktion und Bedeutung des aposotlischen Stuhls in den pseudoisidorischen Falschungen Cologne 2014 Hartmann Wilfried and Gerhard Schmitz eds Fortschritt durch Falschungen Ursprung Gestalt und Wirkungen der pseudoisidorischen Falschungen MGH Studien und Texte 31 2002 Knibbs Eric Ebo of Reims Pseudo Isidore and the Date of the False Decretals Speculum 92 2017 p 144 183 Knibbs Eric Pseudo Isidore s Ennodius Deutsches Archiv 74 2018 p 1 52 Patzold Steffen Gefalschtes Recht aus dem Fruhmittelalter Untersuchungen zur Herstellung und Uberlieferung der pseudoisidorischen Dekretalen 2015 Schon Karl Georg Die Capitula Angilramni Eine prozessrechtliche Falschung Pseudoisidors MGH Studien und Texte 39 2006 Ubl Karl and Daniel Ziemann eds Falschung als Mittel der Politik Pseudoisidor im Licht der neuen Forschung MGH Studien und Texte 57 2015 Zechiel Eckes Klaus Ein Blick in Pseudoisidors Werkstatt Studien zum Entstehungsprozess der Falschen Dekretalen mit einem exemplarischen editorischen Anhang Francia 28 2001 p 37 90 Zechiel Eckes Klaus Falschung als Mittel politischer Auseinandersetzung Ludwig der Fromme 814 840 und die Genese der pseudoisidorischen Dekretalen 2011 External links editThe False Capitularies of Benedictus Levita Monumenta Germaniae Historica in German and Latin Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes in Latin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pseudo Isidore amp oldid 1177251636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
