Canon Law and the Letters of Ivo of Chartres
Ivo of Chartres was one of the most learned scholars of his time, a powerful bishop and a major figure in the so-called 'Investiture Contest'. Christof Rolker here offers a major new study of Ivo, his works and the role he played in the intellectual, religious and political culture of medieval Europe around 1100 AD. Comparing Ivo’s extensive correspondence to the contemporary canon law collections attributed to him, Dr Rolker provides a new interpretation of their authorship. Contrary to current assumptions, he reveals that Ivo did not compile the Panormia, showing that its compiler worked in a distinctly different mental framework from Ivo. These findings call for a reassessment of the relationship between Church reform and scholasticism and shed new light on Ivo as both a scholar and bishop.
- Provides a new interpretation of the authorship of contemporary canon law collections previously attributed to Ivo of Chartres
- Sheds new light on the role that Ivo played in the intellectual, religious and political culture of this period
- Will appeal to scholars of the intellectual and legal history of the central Middle Ages
Reviews & endorsements
'Christof Rolker provides for the first time a truly comprehensive examination of the letters' [of Ivo of Chartres] transmission. This, however, is only one of this outstanding work's achievements. For Rolker also re-assesses the state of canon law and theology in northern France at the beginning of the twelfth century and Ivo's role in the creation of a distinct canonistic jurisprudence … I recommend this volume to any student of medieval life around 1100.' Bruce Brasington, The Medieval Review
'The author presents a painstaking and detailed study of the sources and the inter-relationship of the principal works attributed to Ivo: the Tripartita, Decretum, Panormia and Prologus. … Rolker does clearly give the state of the question on Ivo's canonical works, provides a fuller context for these works, and shines a brighter light on these sources, and it is in just this way that Ivo's letters prove most valuable.' Becket Soule, Ecclesiastical Law Journal
Product details
January 2014Paperback
9781107692022
402 pages
230 × 153 × 24 mm
0.56kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Ivo of Chartres - 'life and letters'?
- 2. Canon law before Ivo
- 3. Collections known to or compiled by Ivo
- 4. The canon law in Ivo's correspondence
- 5. Hierarchies of authority: Ivo's views on divine law and the ecclesiastical hierarchy
- 6. The laws of marriage: 'quod et natura disposuit, et lex tam ecclesiastica quam mundana firmavit'
- 7. Ivo's Decretum and the Panormia: character, receptions, authorship
- 8. Ivo's pastoral canon law and his place in legal history
- A concordance table for the quotations in Ivo's letters
- Bibliography.