Codex Epistolaris Carolinus: Letters from the popes to the Frankish rulers, 739-791

The Codex epistolaris Carolinus is a collection of 99 letters sent by the popes to the Frankish kings Charlemagne and his predecessors between 739 and 791. The sole surviving medieval manuscript of the letters is now in Vienna (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Cod. 449). The headings or lemmata provided for each letter by the Frankish compilers in 791 and preserved in the codex add a distinctive Frankish commentary on events in Rome and Italy in the second half of the eighth century. This book provides the first full English translation of the letters and lemmata in the Codex epistolaris Carolinus and re-creates the original Carolingian order of presentation of the letters according to the manuscript.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2021
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

The Codex epistolaris Carolinus, a remarkable collection of ninety-nine letters dating between 739 and 791, holds historical significance as it preserves correspondence exchanged between the popes and the Frankish kings, including Charlemagne and his predecessors. Commissioned by Charlemagne in 791, the sole surviving medieval manuscript of these letters was created in Cologne during the later ninth century and is now housed in Vienna's Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Cod. 449). The headings or lemmata provided by the Frankish compilers in 791, meticulously preserved in the codex, offer a distinctive Frankish commentary on events in Rome and Italy during the second half of the eighth century.

This book not only presents the first comprehensive English translation of the letters and lemmata within the Codex epistolaris Carolinus but also restores the original Carolingian order of presentation of the letters based on the manuscript. A substantial introduction delves into the historical importance of the collection, the process of compilation, the contextual significance of the Vienna manuscript, particularly the role of lemmata, the unique characteristics of the Latin used in the papal letters, and the biblical citations. Additionally, the introduction provides a historical backdrop to the letters themselves.

The lemmata and letter translations are accompanied by comprehensive introductions to each letter, along with a detailed historical commentary and glossary. This extensive resource enhances our understanding of the historical context, cultural exchange, and religious developments of the late eighth and early ninth centuries, shedding light on the complex relationships between the papacy, the Frankish kings, and the broader European society of that time.

Weight: 778g
Dimension: 155 x 217 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800348714