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The Dissemination of the Letters of Pope Gregory VII During the Investiture Contest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2011

I. S. Robinson
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Extract

‘We have been placed in such a position’, wrote Pope Gregory VII at the beginning of his pontificate, ‘that we are compelled willy-nilly to announce truth and justice to all peoples, especially Christians, according to the Word of the Lord, “Cry aloud and do not cease; lift up your voice like a trumpet and announce to my people their sins” (Isaiah lviii. I), and elsewhere, “If you do not announce to the evildoer his iniquity, I shall seek his soul at your hand” (Ezekiel iii. 18). Again the prophet says, “Cursed be the man who holds back his sword from blood” (Jeremiah xlviii. 10); that is, the word of preaching from the rebuke of carnal men.’ These prophetic texts recur throughout the Register of Gregory VII, defining that obligation of rebuking evil-doers which the pope considered to be a primary duty of his office. Gregory VII was the most energetic propagandist of his reforming programme for the extirpation of simony and clerical marriage. His letters were intended to provide their recipients with anctoritates demonstrating the righteousness of the Gregorian cause.

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Articles
Information
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 1983 , pp. 175 - 193
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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References

1 [Gregorii VII], Registrum i. 15, M.G.H., Epistolae selectae ii. 23 (1 July 1073).

2 See esp. Schneider, C., Prophetisches Sacerdotium und heilsgeschichtliches Regnum im Dialog, 1073–7, Munich 1972Google Scholar, 33ff.

3 Registrum iv. 11, 31of.

4 Registrum viii. 21, 564ff. Cf. Arquillière, H. X., ‘La Deuxième Lettre de Grègoire VII à Herman de Metz (1081): ses sources patristiques’, Recherches de Science Religieuse, xl (1952Google Scholar) 231ff. (= Mélanges J. Lebreton).

5 Brussels, Bibliothèque Royale MS 11196–7, fo. ior; Codex Udalrici 156 (not included in the edition of the Codex Udalrici by Jaffé, P., Bibliotheca rerum germanicarum, V, Berlin 1869Google Scholar).

6 Manegold, Ad Gebehardum, M.G.H., Libelli de lite i. 332f.

7 Cf. Erdmann, C., ‘Die Bambcrgcr Domschule im Investiturstreit’, Zeitschrift für bayerische Landesgeschichte, ix (1936Google Scholar), 1ff; Pivec, K., ‘Studien und Forschungen zur Ausgabe des Codex Udalrici’, Milteilungen des österreichischen Institute für Geschichtsforschung, xlv (1931Google Scholar), 481ff; xlvi (1932), 309ff; Hauthaler, W., ‘Die grosse Briefhandschrift zu Hanover’, Neues Archiv, xx (1894), 209Google Scholarff.

8 Erdmann, ‘Die Bamberger Domschule’, 27f.

9 Cf. Holder-Egger, O., ‘Fragment eines Manifestes aus der Zeit Heinrichs iv’, Neues Archiv, xxx (1906Google Scholar), 183ff; The Epistolae Vagantes of Pope Gregory VII, ed. Cowdrey, H. E. J., Oxford 1972, 33Google Scholar n. 2.

10 Holder-Egger identified this churchman as Archbishop Siegfried of Mainz (as n. 9, 1833”); C. Erdmann suggested Bishop Ott o of Constance: ‘Tribur und Rom' , Deutsches Archiv, i (1937), 386ff. The resemblance between this fragmentary letter and Bishop Benno 11 of Osnabriick's letter of 1078/9 to Archbishop Sigwin of Cologne (Norbert, Vila Bennonis Ilepiscopi Osnabrugensis, cap. 17, in Lebensbeschreibungen einiger Bischofe des 10.-12. Jakrhunderts, Ausgewählte Quellen zurdeutschen Geschichte des Mittelalters 22, 1973, 410) is discussed by Robinson, I. S., Authority and Resistance in the Investiture Contest, Manchester 1978, 156Google Scholarf.

11 Epistolae Vagantes, no. 14, 32ff; Registrum iv. 23, 334ff.

12 Cf. Robinson, I. S., ‘Zur Arbeitsweise Bernolds von Konstanz und seines Kreises. Untersuchungen zum Schlettstädter Codex 13’, Deutsches Archiv, xxxiv (1978), 51Google Scholarff.

13 Epistolae Vagantes, no. 9, 10, 18ff. Bernoldi libelli, iii, M.G.H., Libelli de lite, ii. 60ff.

14 E.g. Registrum ii. 66, 222.

15 The rubrics are ‘Ne populus obediat episcopo prefata contemnenti statuta' (Jaffé-Loewenfeld (hereafter cited as JL) 4971) and ‘Idem ad laicos pro exequendis superioribus statutis' (Registrum ii. 45). Cf. Bernold, Apologeticus, M.G.H., Libelli de lite, ii. 60.11,14,21,24; 61.10; 65.20; 66.27; 67.11; 70.16; 71.35; 75.3; 88.34,37 (statuta); 88.24ff (obedire). On Bernold's authorship of the collection, see Robinson, ‘Zur Arbeitsweise Bernolds’, 69f.

16 Registrum ii. 45, 182.

17 Besides the evidence of the incidence of this letter provided by E. Caspar, Das Register Gregors VII. (as n. 1), 182, see the letter of Urban 11, JL 5743, P.L., cli. 532B; and the sentence collection from the library of the chapter of St Nikolaus in Passau, Munich MS lat. 16085, fo- IIV (left margin).

18 For the Trier codex see Quellen zur Geschichte Kaiser Heinrichs IV., ed. F.-J. Schmale, Ausgewählte Quellen zur deutschen Geschichte des Mittelalters 12, 1968, 382 n., 384 n.; and Epistolae Vagantes, no 25, 27, 64ff, 70ff.

19 For the Leipzig codex, see Erdmann, ‘Die Bamberger Domschule’, 8ff.

20 Registrum iii. 3, 1, 2, 246f, 242ff.

21 Epistolae Vagantes, no. 17, 18, 46ff; Registrum v. 14a, 372f.

22 Cf. Erdmann, ‘Die Bamberger Domschule’, 24ff.

23 Bruno, Saxonicum bellum, cap. 84, 96 (tyrannus); 75, 86, 95 (exrex); 1 (Ecclus. x.3), ed. H. E. Lohmann, M.G.H., Kritische Studientexte, II, 80, 89; 77, 81, 88; 13.

24 Cf. O.-H. Kost, Das östliche Niedersachsen im Investiturstreit. Studien zu Brunos Buch vom Sachsenkrieg, Göttingen 1962.

25 Saxonicum bellum, caps 60–76 = Registrum iii. 6, iii. 6, 253ff; Epistolae Vagantes no. 14, 32ff: Registrum viii. 21 (recension 11), 546ff.

26 Saxonicum bellum, cap. 68, 71 (60, 62).

27 Ibid., cap. 90 (84f).

28 Ibid., cap. 105 , 106, 113 (93ff, 105f) = Registrum iv. 23, 24; vi. 1, 334ff, 389ff. Cf. I. S. Robinson, ‘Pope Gregory vii, the princes and the Pactum 1077–1080’, E.H.R. xciv (1979Google Scholar), 721ff, esp. 735–7.

29 Saxonicum bellum, cap. 104 (93); cap. 108, 110, 112, 114–5 (97ff, 106ff: Saxon letters).

30 Ibid., cap. 118–20 (11 iff) = Epistolae Vagantes, no. 25, 27, 26, 64ff, 70ff, 66ff. Bruno censored the passages dealing with the troubles of the church of Magdeburg which occur in the version of these letters given by the Trier codex.

31 For the view that Hugh used a manuscript of the Register, see E. Caspar, Das Register Gregors VII., xii-xiv, and C. Erdmann, ‘Die Anfänge der staatlichen Propaganda im Investiturstreit’, Historische Zeitschrift, cliv (1939), 508. For the contrary view, see Peitz, W. M., ‘Das Originalrcgister Gregors vii. im vatikanischen Archiv’, Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien, philosophisch-historische Klasse, clxv (1911), 132Google Scholar; see most recently Hoffmann, H., ‘Zum Register und zu den Briefen Papst Gregors vii.’, Deutsches Archiv, xxxii (1976), 86Google Scholarff, esp. 115ff.

32 Hugh introduced into the Chronicon (M.G.H., Scriptores, viii. 422) passages from the Epistola of Wenrich of Trier (M.G.H., Libelli de lite, i. 285.23–286.6).

33 Hugh, Chronicon, 412ff, 417, 420f. = Registrum vii. 14a; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 12; Registrum iv. 22, 19; vi. 3, 2; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 30.

34 Wattenbach, W. and Holtzmann, R., Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen im Mittelalter. Die Zeit der Sachsen und Salier, ii. 3, Cologne–Graz 1967, 624Google Scholar.

35 Decrees of 1075: Chronicon, 426ff = Epistolae Vagantes, no. 9, 10; Registrum iv. 11 (partial), ii. 45; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 11. Excommunication of Henry iv: Chronicon 439ff = Epistolae Vagantes, no. 14; Registrum iv. 1; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 15; Registrum iii. 6,v. 14a (cap. 15), vi. 17a(cap. 1); Epistolae Vagantes,no. 18; Registrum iv. 12, 12a; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 19. Negotiations with the two kings: Chronicon, 447ff, 453ff = Registrum iv. 23–4, 15–6; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 25, 31; Registrum vii. 3, 14a (cap. 7), viii. 21 ; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 54.

36 For these correspondences, see the table, below pp. 190–1.

37 In Pertz's edition of Hugh's Chronicon (M.G.H., Scriptores, viii. 428.1–9) a fragment of Gregory vii's letter to Count Robert 1 of Flanders (Registrum iv. 11, 310ff) is interpolated between JL 4971 and Registrum ii. 45. However, the unique codex of the chronicle, Berlin, Deutsche Staatsbibliothek MS. Phillipps 1870, shows that the fragment of Registrum iv. 11 was a later addition to the text, in the left margin of fo. 105V.

38 Hugh, Chronicon 428; Sélestat MS 13, fo. 42V (Registrum ii. 45, 182ff).

39 Paul of Bernried, Vita Gregorii VII, cap. 37 (JL 4970), 38 (JL 4971), 39 (Registrum ii. 45), ed. J. M. Watterich, Pontificum Romanorum Vitae ab aequalibus conscriptae, I, Leipzig 1862, 4gofT. The address of Registrum ii. 45 printed here by Watterich does not mention Welf; but this edition deliberately brings Paul's version of Gregorian letters into line with that of the Register. In the recensions of the Heiligenkreuz, Vienna, Admont and Melk codices of the Vita, the letter is directed Wielfoni (Wilfoni): see Caspar, Das Register Gregors VII., 182 n. On the Gregorian letters in the Vita, see Fuhrmann, H., ‘Zur Beniitzung des Registers Gregors vii. durch Paul von Bernried’, Studi Gregoriani, v (1956), 299Google Scholarff”, esp. 303. I am indebted to the Mitarbeiter of the Monumenta Germaniae Historica for information concerning the readings of the codices of the Vita.

40 Cf. Maier, M., ‘Ein schwäbisch-bayerischer Freundeskreis Gregors vii.’, Studien und Mitteilungen zur Geschichte des Benediktiner-Ordens lxxiv (1963), 312Google Scholarff.

41 Paul, Vita Gregorii VII, cap. 36, 490: Epislolae Vagantes, no. 8, 16ff.

42 The rubric of Registrum ii. 45 (see above, n. 39) and of JL 4971, ‘Hi[n]c clero et populo demandat ne inobedienti episcopo obediant' (Vita, cap. 38, 492).

43 Paul, Vita, cap. 40, 495: Registrum ii. n, 142f.

44 Paul, Vita, cap. 41 , 495f: Epislolae Vagantes, no. 11, 26.

45 Paul, Vita, cap. 40: ‘dilecto in Christo filio et nobilissimo comiti Adalberto; Registrum ii. 11: Alberto comiti.

46 Hugh, Chronicon, 428f.

47 For the suggestion that another partial version of this same collection is to be found in the codex Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale lat. 12519, fo. 224r-v, see Robinson, ‘Zur Arbeitsweise Bernolds’, 79f. On this codex, see Hoffmann, ‘Zum Register’, 113 n. 13, 128.

48 Cf. E. Strelau, Leben und Werke des Mönches Bernold von St. Blasien, Diss., Jena 1889 ; J. Autenrieth , Die Domschule von Konstanz zur Zeit des Investiturstreits (Forschungen zur Kirchen- und Geistesgeschichte, N.F., iii. 1956).

49 Bernold, Apologeticus, 60f (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 8), 67.

50 Bemoldi libelli, I, M.G.H., Libelli de lite, ii. 7ff.

51 Bernold, Apologeticae rationes, cap. 8–9, ibid., 97; Registrum viii. 21, 548, 553f. Cf. H. Weisweiler, ‘Die päpstliche Gewalt in den Schriften Bernolds von St. Blasien aus dem Investiturstreit’, Studi Gregoriani, iv (1952), 129ff.

52 Manegold, Ad Gebehardum, 333.9ff(cf. 340C 420f) = JL 4933 (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 8); 333–14f = JL 4970 (Epislolae Vagantes, no. 9); 333.15f = JL 4971 (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 14); 333. 16f = Registrum iv. 1; 333. 22f (cf. 359ff) = JL4999 (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 14); 333. 24f = JL 5013 (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 17); 333.25f = JL 5014 (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 18); 337.9ff = Registrum iii. 10a; 337.19ff = Registrum vii. 14a; 346.3ff (cf. 400.gf) = Registrum vi. 5b.

53 See the table, below pp. 190–1.

54 Bernolk, Chronicon a. 1075, M.G.H., Scriptores, v, 430f: Epistolae Vagantes, no. 8, 16ff.

55 B. Schmeidler, ‘Berthold als Verfasser der nach ihm benannten Annalen bis 1080 und das Verhältnis seiner Arbeit zur Chronik Bernolds’, Archiv für Urkundenforschung, xv (1938), 159ff. A new edition of the chronicles of Berthold and Bernold is in preparation for the Monumenta Germaniae Historica.

56 On the ‘South German Gregorian’ Bernhard, see C. Erdmann, Studien zur Briefliteratur Deutschlands im 11. Jahrhundert (Schriften der M.G.H., i. 1938), 2O3ff.; Robinson, ‘Zur Arbeitsweise Bernolds’, 89ff.

57 Berthold, Annales a. 1079, M.G.H., Scriptores, v, 277, 314f, 317f = Epistolae Vagantes, no. 8, 16ff; Registrum vi. 5b, v. 14a, 402ff, 372f; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 32, 84fF.

58 Hugh, Chronicon, 423ff, 442; Codex udalrici 165, ed. Jaffé, no. 57, Bibliotheca rerum germanicarum, v. 122f; Manegold, Ad Gebehardum, 346.3–8, 400.9f.

59 Namur, Musée Archéologique MS 5, fo. 84r (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 32); fo. 104V (Registrum v. 14a). Diversorum patrum sententie sive Collectio in LXXIV titulos digesta, ed. J. T. Gilchrist, Vatican City 1973, xxxvi ff. Cf. Autenrieth, J., ‘Bernold von Konstanz und die erweiterte 74-Titelsammlung’, Deutsches Archiv, xiv (1958), 375Google Scholarff.

60 Marianus Scottus, Chronicon a. 1079, M.G.H., Scriptores, v. 561 (Epistolae Vagantes, no. 32: a longer version than that given by Berthold). The letter was known also to Gerhoh of Reichersberg, a ‘South German Gregorian’ of the second generation: Tractatus in psalmum X, M.G.H., Libelli de lite, iii. 417f.

61 Kremsmünster, Stiftsbibliothek codex 27, fo. 202v-203v: see Cowdrey, Epistolae Vagantes, 84, 123 (no. 32, 51); Codex Udalrici, 154, ed. Jaffé, no. 58, 123ff; Hugh, Chronicon, 440.

62 Frutolf, Chronica, ed. F.-J. Schmale and I. Schmale-Ott (Ausgewählte Quellen zur deutschen Geschichte des Mittelalters, 15, 1972), 86ff = Registrum iv. 12a; Epistolae Vagantes, no. 14; Registrum vii. 14a, cap. 7. On Frutolf, see I. Schmale-Ott, ‘Frutolf von Michelsberg’, Die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters. Verfasserlexikon, v (1955), 240f.

63 Codex Udalrici, 146, 148, 150. On the contents of ‘Codex I’, see Erdmann, ‘Die Bamberger Domschule’, 12ff.

64 Frutolf, Chronica, 84, 90ff. Cf. Die Briefe Heinrichs IV., ed. C. Erdmann, M.G.H., Kritische Studientexte, I, Anhang A, C, 65ff, 69ff.

65 Frutolf, Chronica, 92ff, citing Anselm, Liber contra Wibertum, M.G.H., Libelli de lite, i. 521. Frutolf's presentation of Anselm resembles that of Sigebert of Gembloux, Chronica, M.G.H., Scriptores, vi. 364, who was at pains to explain how a saint could have strayed into the Gregorian party.

66 Chronica, 86. For Frutolf's opinion of Victor in, see Chronica, 102.

67 Saxonicum bellum, cap. 69, 71 , 73 , 107; 60ff, 66ff, 96.

68 JL 5106–8, 5271: Epistolae Vagantes, no. 25–7, 54, 66, 68, 70, 130.

69 Epistolae Vagantes, no. 54, 128ff.

70 Bernold, Chronicon a. 1084, 441; Hugh, Chronicon, 464.

71 Bernold, Chronicon, 441. Cf. G. Meyer von Knonau, Jahrbücher des deutschen Reichs unter Heinrich IV. und Heinrich V., III, Leipzig 1895, 606f.

72 Cf. Robinson, I. S., ‘The friendship network of Gregory VII’, History, xliii (1978), 1CrossRefGoogle Scholarff.

73 Hugh, Chronicon, 412ff, 417, 420f.

74 Catalogue general des . . . bibliothiques des departements, iii. 99f. On codex 189, see Williams, S., Codices Pseudo-Isidoriani: a palaeographico-historical study, Fordham 1971, 56Google Scholar.

75 Epistolae Vagantes, no. 24, 41, 62ff, 102.

76 Ibid., no. 45–7, 108ff.

77 Registrum iv. 11, vi. 7–8, ix. 33, 35; 311, 407, 409, 620, 623. JL 5247: Epistolae Vagantes, no. 47, 114.

78 Registrum. iv 11, 311. According to the Chronica of the monastery of Watten (composed in the 1090s), Ingelrannus was filius sancte Romane ecclesie (M.G.H., Scriptores, xiv. 172); but the author seems here to be presenting his own interpretation of Registrum iv. 11, rather than supplying independent evidence.

79 Hugh, Chronicon, 453.

80 Cardinalium schismaticorum scripta, M.G.H. Libelli de lite, ii. 399; Wido of Osnabrück, Liber de controversia, ibid., i. 468ff; Liber de unitate ecclesiae conservanda, ibid., ii. 186ff; Hugh of Fleury, Tractatus de regia potestate, ibid., 467ff; Disputatio vel defensio Paschalis II papae, ibid., 664. Sigebert of Gembloux's work is lost: see Sigebert, De scriptoribus ecclesiasticis, cap. 171, P.L., clx. 587C.