Recueil des actes de Louis VI, roi de France (1108-1137) ed. by Robert-Henri Bautier
Brigitte Miriam Bedos-Rezak
BOOK REVIEWS 539 Recueil des actes de Louis VI, roi France (1108-1137). Publié sous la direction Robert-Henri Bautier par Jean Dufour. 4 vols. [Chartes et diplômes relatifs à l'histoire France.] (Paris: Académie Inscriptions BellesLettres . Distributed by Boccard. 1992-1994. Pp. xxvii, 497; 233, plates 5; 193.) In 1894, the "Commission chartes diplômes" of Belles-Lettres resolved to provide historians with comprehensive critical editions French royal charters issued between 840 (accession Charles Bald West Frankish kingdom) and 1223 (death King Philip Augustus). course ofthe twentieth century, all Carolingian Robertian diplomas were edited, along Capetian ofPhilip 1(1060- 1 108) Augustus (1 180-1223).Jean Dufour,who has already contributed respected Robert I" Raoul, rois 926-936 (Paris, 1978), now expands corpus diplomaties his new meticulous scholarly edition known acts in name VI as king-designate king, ofhis queen dowager,Adelaide ofMaurienne Faithful exacting rules traditional diplomatics but also utilizing resources computerized textual processing, Dufour provides analysis, stemma, text or clue, apparatus for some 500 Latin documents, ordered chronologically. This corpus, gathered means an extensive quest which uncovered thirty-two unpublished items yielded ninety-six original documents twenty forgeries, consists primarily authentic copies references lost. Framing this rich material are graphic illustrations, valuable appendices indexes, erudite introduction addresses modes significance scribal production, chancery practice, diplomatic discourse. VTs production was far more than that father , I (180 articles), introduced rhetorical forms validating procedure. relates these innovations part personal influence Guillaume Champeaux Suger, who may themselves have penned scriptorial activity their respective abbeys St. Victor Denis. Louis' fundamentally shaped literate culture churchmen, had been case documentary practices since times. The chancellor responsible seal validation continued head chapel both units being staffed same clerics neither prepared nor filed them a archive. As principal recipients king's generosity, ecclesiastical establishments drafted, preserved, records those gifts decisions made favor VI. Indeed, great majority involved religious institutions, particularly Benedictine monasteries communities canons regular, mainly located within domain Ile-de-France; Cistercian Prémontré appear much favored. 540 Irrespective whether they products court scriptoria,these express will, peremptory signs (seal, monogram) tone, yet suffused sense accountability God. Generally concerned conveyance lands salvific purposes begin symbolic verbal Trinitarian invocations, proceed subscription containing devotional formula "rex gratia Dei" "divina ordinanteProvidentia," addressed "all faithful Christ,"continue preamble (arenga) often composed excerpts from Scriptures conveniently identified appendix, and, after describing pious motifs prompting gift its recording, close spiritual maledictions. early twelfth-centuryWestern society evolved dependency on written word, manifestations power writing came be endowed format significance. charter readily accessible reliable outstanding Dufour, will permit chart cultural divergence script scripture inscription divine order vehicle administrative development. Brigitte Bedos-Rezak...
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