Collectio CCCC capitulorum
| Title | Collectio CCCC capitulorum |
|---|---|
| Key | ? |
| Alternative title | Sammlung in 400 Capiteln |
| Size | medium (500 to 1000 canons) |
| Century | saec. VIII |
| European region of origin | Southern Germany? |
| Main author | Sven Meeder |
| Structure | by topic |
| No. of manuscripts | some (2–9) |
The Collectio CCCC capitulorum is a systematically arranged collection of canons arranged according to themes. The 404 chapters in the collection, each sporting a descriptive heading, are each made up of one or several sentences taken from a variety of authoritative sources. These sentences, the ‘canons’, are not seldom altered or trimmed to serve the compiler’s purpose.
The collection owes much to the insular innovations of systematic canonical collections, not least with regard to the great variety of sources. In addition to the more customary canonical texts, such as the acts of the ecumenical councils, papal letters and decretals, the compiler of this collection drew his canons from the bible (the Vulgate), Roman secular law texts, the Canones Apostolorum, Gallic synods, patristic works, and Frankish and Insular penitential texts.
Given the richness of insular material (and connections) in north-eastern France, an origin in this region some time in the second half of the eighth century is plausible. The two Bavarian manuscript witnesses suggest close ties with this area as well. The dominance of canons on the conduct of secular clergy, rather than monks, would suggest an origin in an episcopal centre.
Manuscripts
The sigla in the following table are those of the edition (in print) by Sven Meeder.
| Sigla | Manuscript |
|---|---|
| M | München, BSB, Clm 4592 (South-East Germany, saec. ix2/4) |
| I | Wien, ÖNB, Cod. 522 (Salzburg, saec. ix2/3) |
| L | Paris, BnF, lat. 2316 (southern France, saec. ix2/4) |
| Metz, BM, 236 (Rhine region, saec. viiiex/ixin), destroyed in 1944 |
Literature
Meeder, 'Biblical past and canonical present: the case of the Collectio 400 capitulorum'; Maassen, Geschichte pp. 842-846; Kéry, Collections pp. 169-170.
Categories
- compiled the eighth century and the mid-ninth century
- Collection
- not in Clavis
DEFAULTSORT "Collectio 400 capitulorum"
