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The treatise of Lorenzo Valla on the Donation of Constantine cover

The treatise of Lorenzo Valla on the Donation of Constantine

By Lorenzo Valla
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History - Medieval/Middle AgesHistory - Religious

About This Book

Lorenzo Valla subjects the Donation of Constantine to close linguistic, legal, and historical analysis, arguing that the purported imperial grant is a medieval forgery. He marshals evidence from anachronistic vocabulary, stylistic and formulaic irregularities, and contradictions with administrative and chronological facts to undermine the document's authenticity. The treatise assesses the document's role in justifying papal temporal claims and outlines the political consequences of its exposure. It also demonstrates early internal-critical methods, using word usage and contextual inconsistency as tools for evaluating historical texts.

About the Author

Valla, Lorenzo portrait

Lorenzo Valla

Lorenzo Valla was an Italian humanist and scholar of the Renaissance, renowned for his critical approach to classical texts. He is best known for his work "The Treatise of Lorenzo Valla on the Donation of Constantine," where he famously challenged the authenticity of the Donation of Constantine, a document that had been used to justify papal authority. Valla's rigorous analysis and emphasis on philology laid the groundwork for modern textual criticism and contributed significantly to the intellectual currents of his time. His writings reflect a deep engagement with language and history, marking him as a pivotal figure in the development of humanist thought.

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