Littera cum filo canapis, 13th C--Pope Alexander IV | Littera cum filo canapis with seal, 16 November 1260

Imperial Charter-- Emperor Henry V.

Single leaf, Pope Alexander IV, Littera cum filo canapis, 16^th November 1260 on vellum; 7 lines, ruled, written in a curial minuscule in brown ink with, one large ink initial and one small ink initial; overall good condition with minor darkening around edges due to damp and slight staining (legibility of text not impacted)

MONASTIC SCANDAL AND UPHEAVAL: THE CASE OF GODESCALC IN A LITTERA BY POPE ALEXANDER IV

This Littera cum filo canapis was issued on behalf of Pope Alexander IV in response to a petition from Abbot Gilbert of the Monastery of Saint Bertin, a Benedictine abbey in Saint-Omer, France. When trying to relieve Godescalc from the office of claustral prior (an internal administrator of a monastery) due to his inappropriate behaviour, the monk refused and continued to act in his role. The Littera mentions Godescalc’s wrongdoings, taking possession of monastic property as well as retaining a personal household, thereby defying monastic discipline, so central to the rule of St Benedict. Godescalc whose name translates to “servant of God” divided the monastery and gained supporters who refused the authority of the newly appointed abbot. In response to the unruly monks, Alexander IV decided to excommunicate Godescalc and his supporters who continued their rebellion unperturbed. Pope Alexander IV therefore authorised the use of force if necessary and denied the insurgents any form of appeal until the matter were sorted in accordance with abbot Gilbert’s decisions.

Litterae cum filo canapis, transl. letters with hempen cord, contained a papal order, instruction, or legal decision made by the Holy See. The seal of Pope Alexander IV is still extant and attached with the aforesaid cords to the document. In contrast to papal bulls, Litterae cum filo canapis were less graphically complex as they carried immediate orders and instructions.

This Littera, despite its seemingly unsuspecting appearance, contains traces of a scandalous insubordination revealing the internal power struggles of affluent monasteries in the north of France.

LITERATURE

A. Birnstiel, D. Schweizer. Nicht nur Seide oder Hanf! Die Entwicklung der äußeren Merkmale der Gattung Litterae im 12. Jh. In Irmgard Fees, Andreas Hedwig, Francesco Roberg eds. Papsturkunden des frühen und hohen Mittelalters. Äußerliche Merkmale - Konservierung - Restaurierung. Eudora-Verlag, Leipzig 2011.