Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series: Series Number 49: The Making of Gratian's Decretum

This book offers perspectives on the legal and intellectual developments of the twelfth century. Gratian's collection of Church law, the Decretum, was a key text in these developments. Compiled in around 1140, it remained a fundamental work throughout and beyond the Middle Ages. Until now, the many mysteries surrounding the creation of the Decretum have remained unsolved, thereby hampering exploration of the jurisprudential renaissance of the twelfth century. Professor Winroth has now discovered the original version of the Decretum, which has long lain unnoticed among medieval manuscripts, in a version about half as long as the final text. It is also different from the final version in many respects - for example, with regard to the use of of Roman law sources - enabling a reconsideration of the resurgence of law in the twelfth century.

List of illustrations; List of tables; Preface; List of abbreviations and Conspectus siglorum; 1. Gratian and the Decretum; 2. Heresy and excommunication: Causa 24; 3. Obedience or contempt: Causa 11, Questio 3; 4. The two recensions of the Decretum; 5. Gratian and Roman law; 6. The men behind the Decretum; Conclusion: medieval law and the Decretum; Appendix: the contents of the first recension of Gratian's Decretum; Bibliography; Index of cited passages in Gratian's Decretum; Index of papal letters; General index.