The Papacy and Ecclesiology of Honorius II (1124-1130): Church Governance after the Concordat of Worms

The papacy of Honorius II (1124-1130) has been overlooked by historians, but this book offers a complete reappraisal. It argues that by adapting the content and form of letters, the papal chancery played a decisive role in extending the ecclesiological thinking of the papacy and paved the way for ideas developed later in the twelfth century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2023
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The papacy of Honorius II (1124-1130) has often been overlooked by historians, usually considered uneventful, transitional, and colorless. This book offers a complete reappraisal, drawing on a detailed examination of the surviving letters produced by the papal chancery to show that, on the contrary, it was a vital and innovative pontificate. It argues that during what was a stabilizing period for the papacy in an era of peace, Honorius and the chancery were able to enact the instruments and ecclesiological claims dictated by external threats and produced during previous papacies. In particular, it shows that by adapting the content and form of the letters it issued, Honorius' chancery, led by the official Haimeric, played a decisive role in extending the ecclesiological thinking of the papacy. Furthermore, these years paved the way for ideas that were further developed later in the twelfth century, especially the arguments created by the warring parties in the Schism of 1130 to legitimize their respective popes. This study thus presents a different view of Honorius' administration, highlighting the strategies to which the papacy turned in order to govern ecclesiastical institutions and to deal with secular matters, when previous protocols and routines could no longer be relied upon.

The papacy of Honorius II (1124-1130) has often been overlooked by historians, usually considered uneventful, transitional, and colorless. This book offers a complete reappraisal, drawing on a detailed examination of the surviving letters produced by the papal chancery to show that, on the contrary, it was a vital and innovative pontificate. It argues that during what was a stabilizing period for the papacy in an era of peace, Honorius and the chancery were able to enact the instruments and ecclesiological claims dictated by external threats and produced during previous papacies. In particular, it shows that by adapting the content and form of the letters it issued, Honorius' chancery, led by the official Haimeric, played a decisive role in extending the ecclesiological thinking of the papacy. Furthermore, these years paved the way for ideas that were further developed later in the twelfth century, especially the arguments created by the warring parties in the Schism of 1130 to legitimize their respective popes. This study thus presents a different view of Honorius' administration, highlighting the strategies to which the papacy turned in order to govern ecclesiastical institutions and to deal with secular matters, when previous protocols and routines could no longer be relied upon.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 241 x 163 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837650408