Libri Carolini

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The Libri Carolini (title modern, orig. Opus Caroli regis contra synodum ) are a memorandum on church politics that was written by Frankish theologians in the late 8th century on behalf of Charlemagne on the occasion of the Byzantine iconoclasm . She turns against the worship of images.

history

When Pope Hadrian I sent the acts of the Synod of Nicaea from the year 787 , in which the worship of the images was sanctioned by the church, in partly imprecise Latin translation (for example in the formulation of the difference between adoration and veneration) to Charlemagne, the impression arose at the Franconian court that, according to these synodal resolutions, images should be worshiped in the manner of idols. Charlemagne therefore submitted it to the Frankish theologians for examination. In a first reaction in 792, on behalf of Charlemagne, Angilbert and the Capitulare contra synodum presented the Pope with a compilation of the contested passages. At the same time, Karl had a detailed counter-script drawn up, the so-called Libri Carolini (Carolinian Books), which theologians from Visigothic Spain were involved in drawing up due to orthographic and liturgical influences . Due to the stylistic uniformity, a single author is assumed, most likely Theodulf von Orléans , who seems to go even further than the Libri Carolini in his consistent rejection of the images . Since Pope Hadrian I reacted to the Capitulare contra Synodum by defending the position of the Synod of Nicaea, the Synod of Frankfurt in 794 , which had to deal with the issue and to which the Libri Carolini had been submitted, renounced its approval and contented himself with a condemnation of excessive worship of images. This prevented publication and a corresponding history of effects. In the debate that was later resumed under Louis the Pious at the Synod of Paris in 825 , the Libri Carolini no longer play a role.

The work is divided into 120 chapters and divided into four books. With regard to the pictures, it takes the position that it is permissible to have pictures for the decoration of churches and in memory of holy persons . But it is irrelevant for faith whether one has such images or not. Because, as material objects, images are highly imperfect, human-made and ephemeral images of spiritual beings that cannot be represented in images and that cannot be perceived with the fleshly but only with the spiritual eye. In the background are questions that were raised by the hypostasis theory of Neo-Platonism and related to the relationship between image and archetype, the nature of images (image or symbol ) and the possible role of images as media of revelation .

In the editorial copy (Citta del Vaticano, BAV, Cod. Vat. Lat. 7207) that has been preserved, there are marginal notes that document Charlemagne's statements on the text. In addition, the original linguistic form - documented for the first time in the new Ann Freemans edition - by a Carolingian corrector according to the rules of classical grammar and orthography can be recognized, which is shaped by the influence of vernacular Latin in the Romance language areas of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages.

Due to the general theological statements, the Carolinian books form a valuable document of Frankish theology at the time of Charlemagne and his claim, which was made before the imperial coronation of 800 , to watch over Orthodoxy as the protector of the church. Its history of impact and handwritten distribution remained limited due to the papal position in the underlying conflict. Only briefly and selectively can a general renunciation of pictures or the restriction to pictures with purely symbolic subjects be observed ( Dagulf Psalter , church of Germigny-des-Prés ). In any case , the Libri Carolini offered no occasion for radical hostility to images or even iconoclasm , even if their tendency towards image culture was not exactly conducive to it. In any case, they did not prevent the development of a rich Carolingian image culture, which is tangible above all in book illumination , wall painting , goldsmithing and ivory carving . The fact that image service played no role in the Franconian church before the 10th century is less to be attributed to the influence of the Libri Carolini than to the influence of the way of thinking of the Franconian clergy as it reveals itself.

The first edition was made in 1549 on behalf of King Francis I of France by Jean du Tillet based on the copy of the cathedral library of Laon (Paris, Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal 663) made in Reims for Archbishop Hinkmar of Reims , the only completely preserved copy. The manuscript was already known to Jean du Tillet's friend, Johannes Calvin , who quotes from it several times in order to substantiate his position on the question of images. Because of the importance that the Libri Carolini had thereby acquired for the Protestant image theology, which was opposed by the Roman Church , it placed it on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum as an alleged forgery in 1564 .

Source editions

  • Ann Freeman (Ed. With the participation of Paul Meyvaert): Opus Caroli regis contra synodum (Libri Carolini), Hanover 1998. (= Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Concilia, Vol. 2, Supplementum I) (with extensive bibliography)
  • Hubert Bastgen (Ed.): Libri Carolini sive Caroli Magni (capitulare de imaginibus), Hanover 1924. (= Monumenta Germaniae historica / Leges / 4): Monumenta Germaniae historica; T. 2, Suppl.: Leges: 4, Concilia) (outdated)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For the historical background, cf. Ann Freeman (see source editions below) pp. 1–11.
  2. ↑ The Capitulare contra synodum has not survived, but is only known from extensive quotations in the reply from Pope Hadrian I (MGH Epistolae, vol. 5, pp. 5-57).
  3. ^ The long and bitter discussion of the authors, in the course of which Alkuin and Theodulf von Orléans in particular were treated as possible candidates, seems to have been clarified, cf. Ann Freeman (below source editions) pp. 13–23, who decidedly in favor of Theodulf.
  4. ↑ On the positioning of Libri Carolini in the question of images, cf. Ann Freeman pp. 23-36.
  5. ↑ He later became bishop of Saint-Brieuc, then of Meaux.

Secondary literature

  • Paul Speck : The interpolations in the acts of the Council of 787 and the Libri Carolini , Habelt Verlag, Bonn 1998.
  • Johannes Fried et al. (Ed.): 794 - Charlemagne in Frankfurt am Main. A king at work. Exhibition for the 1200th anniversary of the city of Frankfurt am Main . Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1994, pp. 64-112, especially pp. 69-74.
  • Luitpold Wallach : Diplomatic Studies in Latin and Greek Documents from the Carolingian Age . Cornell University Press, Ithaca London 1977.
  • Walther Schmandt: Studies on the Libri Carolini , Mainz 1966.
  • Gert Haendler: The Libri Carolini, a document of the Franconian history of piety , Greifswald 1950.

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