Donation of Constantine - 10 views

• 
  #1 JK Melton on 30 Jan 11

   

  This text was supposedly a decree of Constantine that gave the church great temporal authority. As a result of curing Constantine of leprosy, Pope Sylvester is given tremendous power over the western empire. It may have been created in the mid-8th century and used by Pope Stephen II in negotiations with Pepin the Short, who gave the Pope the Papal States in return for his support. Pope Leo IX argued that it was legitimate in 1054. Suspicions about its authenticity arose, and in 1440, Lorenzo Valla argued conclusively that it was written much later than the 4th century. The reformers, especially Luther, latched onto Valla's arguments.
  
  I chose this ID because it intrigues me. Did the popes know that it was a forgery? Did someone forge it and put it in the right place to be found? How malicious was its creation? I wish we knew more about its origin.
  
  As an artifact, I offer these lines from Dante's Inferno, Canto 19, in which Dante attacks the wealth and corruption of the popes and lays the blame squarely at feet of the Donation of Constantine (here just called "Constantine").
  
  I do not know if I were here too bold,
  That him I answered only in this metre:
  "I pray thee tell me now how great a treasure
  
  Our Lord demanded of Saint Peter first,
  Before he put the keys into his keeping?
  Truly he nothing asked but 'Follow me.'
  
  Nor Peter nor the rest asked of Matthias
  Silver or gold, when he by lot was chosen
  Unto the place the guilty soul had lost.
  
  Therefore stay here, for thou art justly punished,
  And keep safe guard o'er the ill-gotten money,
  Which caused thee to be valiant against Charles.
  
  And were it not that still forbids it me
  The reverence for the keys superlative
  Thou hadst in keeping in the gladsome life,
  
  I would make use of words more grievous still;
  Because your avarice afflicts the world,
  Trampling the good and lifting the depraved.
  
  The Evangelist you Pastors had in mind,
  When she who sitteth upon many waters
  To fornicate with kings by him was seen;
  
  The same who with the seven heads was born,
  And power and strength from the ten horns received,
  So long as virtue to her spouse was pleasing.
  
  Ye have made yourselves a god of gold and silver;
  And from the idolater how differ ye,
  Save that he one, and ye a hundred worship?
  
  Ah, Constantine! of how much ill was mother,
  Not thy conversion, but that marriage dower
  Which the first wealthy Father took from thee!"
  
  Sources:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Constantine
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Valla
  http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle8a.html#donation

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">This text was supposedly a decree of Constantine that gave the church great temporal authority. As a result of curing Constantine of leprosy, Pope Sylvester is given tremendous power over the western empire. It may have been created in the mid-8th century and used by Pope Stephen II in negotiations with Pepin the Short, who gave the Pope the Papal States in return for his support. Pope Leo IX argued that it was legitimate in 1054. Suspicions about its authenticity arose, and in 1440, Lorenzo Valla argued conclusively that it was written much later than the 4th century. The reformers, especially Luther, latched onto Valla's arguments. <br /> <br /> I chose this ID because it intrigues me. Did the popes know that it was a forgery? Did someone forge it and put it in the right place to be found? How malicious was its creation? I wish we knew more about its origin. <br /> <br /> As an artifact, I offer these lines from Dante's Inferno, Canto 19, in which Dante attacks the wealth and corruption of the popes and lays the blame squarely at feet of the Donation of Constantine (here just called "Constantine"). <br /> <br /> I do not know if I were here too bold, <br /> That him I answered only in this metre: <br /> "I pray thee tell me now how great a treasure <br /> <br /> Our Lord demanded of Saint Peter first, <br /> Before he put the keys into his keeping? <br /> Truly he nothing asked but 'Follow me.' <br /> <br /> Nor Peter nor the rest asked of Matthias <br /> Silver or gold, when he by lot was chosen <br /> Unto the place the guilty soul had lost. <br /> <br /> Therefore stay here, for thou art justly punished, <br /> And keep safe guard o'er the ill-gotten money, <br /> Which caused thee to be valiant against Charles. <br /> <br /> And were it not that still forbids it me <br /> The reverence for the keys superlative <br /> Thou hadst in keeping in the gladsome life, <br /> <br /> I would make use of words more grievous still; <br /> Because your avarice afflicts the world, <br /> Trampling the good and lifting the depraved. <br /> <br /> The Evangelist you Pastors had in mind, <br /> When she who sitteth upon many waters <br /> To fornicate with kings by him was seen; <br /> <br /> The same who with the seven heads was born, <br /> And power and strength from the ten horns received, <br /> So long as virtue to her spouse was pleasing. <br /> <br /> Ye have made yourselves a god of gold and silver; <br /> And from the idolater how differ ye, <br /> Save that he one, and ye a hundred worship? <br /> <br /> Ah, Constantine! of how much ill was mother, <br /> Not thy conversion, but that marriage dower <br /> Which the first wealthy Father took from thee!" <br /> <br /> Sources: <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Constantine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Constantine</a> <br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Valla" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Valla</a> <br /> <a href="http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle8a.html#donation" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/circle8a.html#donation</a></div>

  ...

  Cancel
• 
  #2 R. J. Hernandez-Diaz on 18 Feb 11

   

  I think I understand: you're saying Dante's use of "Constantine" here equates Papal worldliness and this is an artifact for the Donation of Constantine. I see that connection.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">I think I understand: you're saying Dante's use of "Constantine" here equates Papal worldliness and this is an artifact for the Donation of Constantine. I see that connection.</div>

  ...

  Cancel

To Top