Ebo of Reims, Pseudo-Isidore, and the Date of the False Decretals
Eric Knibbs
Previous articleNext article FreeEbo of Reims, Pseudo-Isidore, and the Date False DecretalsEric KnibbsEric Knibbs Search for more articles by this author Eric is Assistant Professor History at Williams College (email: [email protected])PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreDespite generations research, date legal forgeries associated with Pseudo-Isidore remains a deep problem. One school thought finds evidence in controversies that surrounded Amalar after he became archbishop Lyon 835. Amalar’s promotion followed Council Thionville same year, where Emperor Louis Pious avenged himself upon those bishops who had participated failed coup on Rotfeld 833. In high drama, Louis’s sons their allies among clergy laity deposed aging emperor, compelled him undergo public penance, committed prison. Yet within months support rebels evaporated, returned power. At Thionville, greater part emperor’s wrath accrued Archbishop Ebo but other rebellious clerics expected retribution as well. Among them was Agobard Lyon. absentia assigned newly vacant see.1 Then now, notorious his unusual ideas about Roman liturgy, which believed be fraught arcane allegorical significance. heedlessly promoted liturgical theories cathedral community, before long deacon Florus, loyalist, retaliated raising charges heresy.2 Florus objected preaching Eucharist, celebrant supposed break into three pieces administering Communion. saw an allegory heart threefold fraction that, argued, contradicted Pauline doctrine Christ’s unitary indivisible body.3 moreover complained relentless “in advancing inept even blasphemous argument division holy Eucharist through forged authority many pontiffs.”4The Pseudo-Isidorian corpus—the so-called Decretals—consists precisely letters names earliest popes. Klaus Zechiel-Eckes has therefore argued Florus’s complaint dates forgery initiative later 830s, Pseudo-Isidore’s first readers. From anybody else, provocative theses flavor might have remained forever confined footnotes.5 Until untimely death 2010, however, leading best known discovering marginal notes ninth-century codices reveal forgers conducting historical research necessary fictions. Two these hail from monastery Corbie, thanks scholarship now enjoys much better idea how Pseudo-Isidorians worked. successive publications, leveraged discovery advance total reinterpretation forgeries. scholars dated most output between 847 852, tracing forgers’ strident rank-and-file archiepiscopate Hincmar Reims whom alienated course domineering career. For Zechiel-Eckes, Decretals reflect aspirations Frankish church reformers generation earlier. reading, purported use proof, incidental variety. As sees it, wrote defend 835, none so than Hincmar’s controversial predecessor.6Today, nearly everybody believes right draw world 830s align provisions pontificate rather Hincmar. If anything, authors wonder whether arguments go far enough.7 time, very few people are certain used or knew all.8 Scholarship, words, would seem accepted extended Zechiel-Eckes’s reading absence any hard reason buy redating compels it.9 This essay holds pushing ever earlier we withdrawn they do not belong. indeed lurks forgeries, details presence vindicate traditional view mid-century phenomenon.Competing Theories Pseudo-IsidoreIn 1628, David Blondel proved ancient compendium mysterious canonist named Isidorus Mercator full forgeries.10 did begin agree basic story origins until Paul Hinschius edited Decretales Pseudo-Isidorianae 1863.11 While Hinschius’s edition suffers problems, introductory monograph origin, date, purpose standard literature. The views outlines there proceeded pioneering survey manuscript enjoyed profound advantage over all scholarship.12 decades, legacy acquired further edge: Emil Seckel, went become scholar next generation, married daughter. Seckel approached faults father-in-law’s gently, while upholding extending decisive findings.13 When Horst Fuhrmann surveyed what influence dissemination texts fifty years later, worked fashioned, bequeathed consensus generations.14Among things, successors wished impose clear chronology complex confusing textual Pseudo-Isidore. beginning, believed, came Hispana Gallica Augustodunensis, subtype authentic Spanish collection Collectio Hispana. Friedrich Maassen, twenty appearance edition, showed corrected, revised, occasionally interpolated otherwise law early moment project. Only one complete survives; it Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1341, copied middle ninth century Corbie. Other copies were Middle Ages since been lost.15After interpolation Hispana, according view, created Capitularies. These mass 1,721 capitula, short chapters paragraphs, advertise themselves secular, royal legislation—as opposed councils papal collected Hispana.16 material extends around hundred thousand words divided books four appendices, additiones. By capitula come sources, including Vulgate, law, genuine legislation. Occasional revised ways major minor, others fashion reminiscent fictions offer elsewhere. Floating morass extracts must existed, some form, compilers set work.17 Capitularies open preface Benedictus Levita, Benedict Deacon, takes credit entire ensemble. claims across neglected Carolingian legislation, capitularies, archives Mainz, former Riculf deposited there. says forgotten laws supplement widely capitulary Ansegis Fontanelle. He also writes passing Otgar ordered undertake compilation “occupied bishopric Mainz time”—a strange phrase indeed, unless writing Otgar’s 21 April 847.18Through nineteenth century, inclined take word, posit connection strength prefatory remarks.19 On eve Julius Weizsäcker began notice resonance polemic provincial affairs Reims.20 Benedict’s claimed associations suspect eyes, deliberate fiction: “A forger like no likely put us onto trail burglar leave calling card scene crime. place origin because deflects our suspicion make harder unmask deception.”21 only piece information survive Seckel’s critique unscathed terminus supply. Benedict, us, longer bishop received finishing touches sometime 847.The final stop traditionalist chronology, Capitularies, held Decretals, series With circle, circulated inserting conciliar To enlarged attached several Capitula Angilramni, précis procedural provisions; Excerptiones de gestis Chalcedonensis concilii, reworked excerpts Chalcedon. Combined, decretal appendices weigh words. introduce new collection, provided fictitious Mercator—Isidore Merchant—take compilation.22 Unlike found relatively medieval readers, way every library exercised incalculable history. Today known.23The share great deal material, analyze relationship systematically. Crucially, distinguished 1,550 gathered 171 assembled appendix, Additio IV. noticed often prior Decretals. Authentic sources incorporated tight combination loosely summarized clearly another closely quoted chapters. Moreover, Benedictine interpolations alterations excerpted recur when appear Hinschius, meant employed bulk source. different seems prevail concerns forgers, cites draft. shift drastic can prove imprecise discuss IV undifferentiated contingent subsequent references paper should understood excluding specified.24 Beyond wrinkle, thesis depend important chronological implications. Because cited time able supply remarkably precise operation: together 847, earlier.25These doctrines displaced concerning relationships sibling That fully refute discarded work excerptors manuscripts Corbie Somme. Just reproduce, revise, rework hundreds too stretches, little mosaic fragments patristic, biblical, texts. leavings cut-and-paste artists responsible work. Three manuscripts, showed, bear demarcating passages sources. Each marked recurs somewhere smaller, components, Chalcedon Excerpts. annotated scriptorium, confirmed indications build greatest monasteries empire, lay province, diocese Amiens. intellectual took shape, famous theologian abbot Paschasius Radbertus, candidate Pseudo-Isidore.26As seen, substantial portions drafted Reims. awareness political events surrounding downfall 835 requires followers favored. older dating scheme fall, superstructure built its back: “It less led error century,” wrote. “His categorically adopted position, subject critical scrutiny 1905…. line fact text-critical proof dependence cannot assembled; could well taken shape parallel another.”27 unmoored preface, develop fresh approach problem chronology. addition theories, alighted exchange 870 nephew, namesake, nemesis, Laon. younger confronted uncle various elder retorted well; said, familiar nephew’s birth. Since Laon born 840, mutually reinforcing Pseudo-Isidore.28In large part, revives older, pre-Hinschian proposed nineteenth-century historian Hermann Wasserschleben.29 Experts return persuasive, such newer orthodoxy, albeit nebulous dogmatic, replace prevailing nineteenth- twentieth-century scholars. eyes recent authors, base response crisis empire encountered start paper: 833, heirs members episcopate, aspects government feared exclusion eldest son, Lothar, co-emperorship. eventually got back, point against episcopal opponents, particular Reims.30 Wasserschleben, machine gear, both elaborated specific statements respond element unfolding catastrophe.31Just Hinschian root without incorporating refuting revolution won widespread addressing comprehensive way. Many nevertheless characterized conclusive convincing Pseudo-Isidore; exception.32 I believe insight replacing orthodoxy another, revealing fragile schemes contextualizing Wasserschleben’s readings cast aside minimal acknowledgment established approach; sway proponents gone graves, resurrected relative ease.Amid uncertainty, lone agreement. theory, pioneered Fuhrmann, proven beyond doubt theory strong clues Some suggest fundamental constituents complex, particularly may emerged traditionalists expected.33 matter. There, intertwined career Ebo, points towards era.Ebo legally politically vulnerable episcopate constituted primary concern.34 resonate repeated initiatives remake reign accession sole rule 814. Broad sections agenda reform council Paris 829, council, risk verisimilitude product.35 Tellingly, drew related Aachen 836, good now.36 Instead, affinities 836 arise entirely shared aims initiatives: fathers sought reignite run aground amidst turbulence 830s. simply reissued legislation effective key 829 mouths popes emperors.37 Scholars dismiss wide-ranging interests filler, included mask offset largely forgers.38 breadth preoccupations demands earnest analysis, fallen welcome ears operation nearer Pious’s years, possible filler seriously.Beyond reform, seeks shield accusations trials means massive interventions arena law. protections present dominate Angilramni.39 antecedents represents clerics, content highly original subversive. aim protect disrupting submerging judicial process hopeless mess contradictory directives, endless appeals, impossible standards evidence. Karl-Georg Schon remarked prescriptions, amounting procedure, profoundly antiprocedural.40 wanted facto immunity, always everywhere.This likewise reflects conditions prevailed during Pious. decades 800, cumulative effects felt increasing independence muscle episcopate.41 prominence coincided uncomfortable pressures factionalism decline end military expansion gained pace reign.42 overview Appendix documents experienced years. We know nothing circumstances, directly Charlemagne’s death, perennially unlucky Amalar, then Trier, possibly exiled. A rebellion Bernard Italy condemnation deposition Anselm Milan, Wolfold Cremona, and, sensationally, Theodulf Orléans, architect ecclesiastical educational initiatives. 830 loyal Jesse Amiens deposed, mere prologue sweeping retaliation 835.43 Hildemann Beauvais brought trial confess, condemned, confinement. managed name, order. include (who reinstalled interim face expulsion once again), Heribald Auxerre, Lyons, Bartholomew Narbonne, Vienne, Elias Troyes.44 And 838, rehabilitated faced allegedly heretical teachings removed office again. civil war, position briefly forced flee 841, afterwards reaffirmed condemnation.45In new, world, if anything vulnerable: Breton famously 848/9 behest duke Nominoe, action condemned.46 Ten encounter fascinating case Nevers, whose mental health deteriorated sufficiently require removal synod Sens 858. colleagues hesitated, remembered having seen decretal, name Pope Melchiades, required approval bishops. Melchiades text is, course, forgery. previous made unambiguous time. Episcopal continued, though Hermann’s marks opportunity begun circulate.47Clearly, want trials. find identify Ebo’s apart difficulties contemporaries search responses unique circumstances. Unfortunately, cooperate attempts historicize agenda. More prefer prevent happening render verdicts completely reversible. trials, exclude manner potential accusers; undermine verdicts, avenues appeal.48 abundant obviously helped applies exclusively. An subset suffragan intrusion metropolitans all.49 classic inventions, prohibition peregrina iudicia, judgment one’s home similarly unhelpful. tried Theodulf, Wolfold, Anselm, discusses accusations, procedures tended world. defending specifically, primarily.There moments veil slips, say speaks situation matters. pervasive canonists exceptio spolii, prohibits pretrial circumstances recorded fellow accused, Beauvais. Alexander I, meanwhile, rails coerced confessions terms recall, remarkable specificity, condemnation. Finally, pseudonymous decretals struggle dismantle obstacles translation, calibrated address Far being scraps thrown troubled prelate, constitute supportive program associates, providing ammunition successor, Hincmar, predate 845. totality, exclusive Building blocks assembling system particulars retooling, perhaps overruling, points.Ebo spoliiAfter collapsed 834, rebel Lothar exile northern Italy. said left archdiocese “taken flight … hide observe beneficial be.” Before long, Rothad Soissons Erchenrad Paris, hiding,” apprehended him, remanded custody Fulda.50 arrested Beauvais, entrusted monks Saint-Vaast. monastic prisons following 835.None fled dioceses imprisoned It significant outline prohibiting Later call exception despoliation. Exceptions, pleas defendant raise avoid delay basis supervening circumstance bare facts plaintiff’s charge. Though elements intended deployment kind explicitly context. Nevertheless, clerical despoliation resemble exception, prohibit driven see denied access possessions resources diocese. Accused prelates suffered adversities reinstated proceeding.Before spolii existed anywhere Western tradition.51 Perhaps novelty invention, extrapolated invention vocabulary two passage sixth-century Historia tripartita commissioned Cassiodorus compiled Epiphanius Greek histories Socrates Scholasticus, Sozomen, Theodoret.52 Together Liber pontificalis,
Speculum