Renaldo W
The Donation of Constantine is an edict alleged to have been promulgated by Emperor Constantine in 317 when in fact it was composed in the eighth century by the papal court. It was a forgery first asserted by Lorenzo Valla, an Italian humanist well known for his translations from the Greek, a Latin grammar textbook, and his critical appraisals of legal documents who proved through historical and linguistic methods that the document was a fake. The Donation of Constantine begins with an elaborate declaration of Orthodox Christian faith and a recitation of how the emperor, stricken by leprosy, was converted, baptized, and cured of his affliction by Pope Sylvester I at the behest of Peter and Paul. In appreciation Constantine transfers authority over Rome and the western part of the Roman empire to the pope. He also gives Pope Sylvester I and his successors the imperial insignia, the tiara representing the glorious resurrection of the Lord, and "the city of Rome, and all the provinces, places and cities of Italy and the western regions,” (Rosenwein 176).
The Donation of Constantine is one big wet sloppy kiss that serves the interests of the pope.
“And we ordain and decree that he [the pope] shall have the supremacy as well over the four chief seats Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople and Jerusalem as also over all churches of God in the whole world. And he who for the time being shall be pontiff of that holy Roman church shall be more exalted than, and chief over, all the priests of the whole world; and everything which is to be provided for the service of God or the stability of the faith of the Christians is to be administered according to his judgement,” (Rosenwein 175).
That is an enormous grant of extensive territory along with spiritual and temporal power given to Pope Sylvester I and his successors. The author enhances the prestige of the papacy through the portrayal of Constantine being alive if it weren’t for the benevolent and miraculous efforts of the very papacy itself. In return, out of gratitude, Constantine bestows “imperial power” to the papal authority. One can see why the papacy would have forged such a document. Let us thank the lucky stars that Lorenzo Valla was able to discover such a deceit.
The Donation of Constantine is an edict alleged to have been promulgated by Emperor Constantine in 317 when in fact it was composed in the eighth century by the papal court. It was a forgery first asserted by Lorenzo Valla, an Italian humanist well known for his translations from the Greek, a Latin grammar textbook, and his critical appraisals of legal documents who proved through historical and linguistic methods that the document was a fake. The Donation of Constantine begins with an elaborate declaration of Orthodox Christian faith and a recitation of how the emperor, stricken by leprosy, was converted, baptized, and cured of his affliction by Pope Sylvester I at the behest of Peter and Paul. In appreciation Constantine transfers authority over Rome and the western part of the Roman empire to the pope. He also gives Pope Sylvester I and his successors the imperial insignia, the tiara representing the glorious resurrection of the Lord, and "the city of Rome, and all the provinces, places and cities of Italy and the western regions,” (Rosenwein 176).
The Donation of Constantine is one big wet sloppy kiss that serves the interests of the pope.
“And we ordain and decree that he [the pope] shall have the supremacy as well over the four chief seats Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople and Jerusalem as also over all churches of God in the whole world. And he who for the time being shall be pontiff of that holy Roman church shall be more exalted than, and chief over, all the priests of the whole world; and everything which is to be provided for the service of God or the stability of the faith of the Christians is to be administered according to his judgement,” (Rosenwein 175).
That is an enormous grant of extensive territory along with spiritual and temporal power given to Pope Sylvester I and his successors. The author enhances the prestige of the papacy through the portrayal of Constantine being alive if it weren’t for the benevolent and miraculous efforts of the very papacy itself. In return, out of gratitude, Constantine bestows “imperial power” to the papal authority. One can see why the papacy would have forged such a document. Let us thank the lucky stars that Lorenzo Valla was able to discover such a deceit.