Emperor Otto II confirms to Patriarch Vitalis of Grado and the bishops subject to him the jurisdictions, immunities, and other rights of their churches.
In nominę sanctę et individuę Trinitatis.
Otto divina [favente]a clementia imperator augustus.
Dignum est ut celsitudo imperialis quantum cęteris honoris et potestatis fastigiob ante[ce]llitc, tant[um]d erga omnes pietatis suę manus impendere satagat.
Igitur omnium fidelium sanctę Dei Ecclesię nostr[orum]quee presentium scilicet et futurorum comperiat magnitudo, qualiter venerabilis Vitalis patriarcha Gradensis ⟨ubi beatorum atque sanctorum eiusdemque venerabilis loci patriarcharum corpora⟩ sedisquef evangelistęg Marci ⟨ab ipso Deo spirante primum Aquileię evangelium ędita et doctah prius Ecclesię clero populoque Romano, eccessum obsecrantesi apostolorum principem⟩ sedesquej Hermachorę [episcopus]k ⟨pręfati alumni et ineffabilia innocentoruml obsequia commorantur⟩ a Traiectum nominen mandans honorifice invisere nostram prederantiamo ⟨depręcatus⟩ per nuncium suum nomine Audoenum ⟨est nostram clementiam genitoris nostri pręceptum affirmasse, datum secundo die mensis ianuarii anno Dominicę incarnationis nongentesimo sexagesimo septimop, imperantis vero eiusdem genitoris nostri domini Ottonis invictissimi imperatoris sexto, inditione undecima, actum Romę sub Ioanne papa, ubi tunc omnium invidorumq iustitiamr in synodo divini spiritus pręcibus prędictorum sanctorum atque confessoris papę Gregorii discretione qui lites sanctorum amborum patriarcharum disecans patriarchales concesserat infulas utrisque, per missos causa eiusdemque rei Gradensis Ioannem diaconum cognomine Acutum et Ioannem cognomine Contarenum obculcaverat, uts per eos postmodum confirmationis similes apices de omni quod subtus cantitatt, pręter id quod inseruimus nostra gratia, genitor noster prębuerat. Nos ergo hoc scientes, quia obedire sanctis petitionibus oportet aures[que]u nostrę pietatis accomodare, secuti sumus eiusdem venerabilis Vitalis patriarchę merito et prosapia per suum capellanum Audoenum nomine et claro ingeniolo petitiones de eodem Patriarchatu augendo, ut inviolabiliter edictum aeternaliter a cunctis servetur per renovationem quin immo auctionem nostri pręcepti et valeat genitoris nostri. Igitur omnium fidelium sanctę Dei ecclesię nostro[rum]quev pręsentium scilicet et futurorum comperiat magnitudo, quod prefatus patriarcha sanctę predictę ecclesię Gradensis metropolitanę per predictum legatum Foroiuliensium stemmate productum⟩ nostram depręcatus est maiestatem, ut de rebus Patriarchatus sui et episcoporum suorum quę infra dictionem Imperii nostri consistere noscuntur, confirmationis nostrę pręceptum fieri iuberemus secundum genitoris nostri [preceptum]w, ut proprias res quas in Mursiano seu in Galigox seu in Zemulisy, partim in territorio Aquileię et in marino termino, saltim in Istria, in Tergesto, in Iustinopoli, Pyrano, Civitate Nova, Parentio, Ragunio, Polla atque in castello Sancti Georgii et reliquorum locorum, tam infra quam citra, seu in Bononia vel in Romania sive in quibuscumque locis infra ditionem Imperii nostri habere videntur, absque cuiusquam contrarietate seu refragatione retinere qui[vi]ssentz/a', quemadmodum temporibus Caroli prędecessoris nostri per decretum cum Grecis sancitum possedere.b'
Cuius petitioni, ut nobis celestis suffragatio copiosior adsit, libenter aquiescentes et iuste iudicantes hos excelentię nostrę apices decrevimus fieri.
Per quos precipimus atque iubemus, ut nullus in nostro iure degentium vel patriarcha, archiepiscopus, episcopus, prępositus, decanus, vicedominusc', dux, marchio, comes, vicecomes, sculdassius aut aliquis exactor alicuius rei, tam clericorum quam laicorum, nec nullus iudex publicus vel quilibet ex iudiciaria potestate in monasteria seu laicosd' vel in villas ac prędia vel possessiones prędictę sanctę matris ecclesię Gradensis ac episcoporum suorum seu in ecclesias baptismales, saltem pręcipue in plebem primame' vel in quibuslibet pagis patriisque et territoriis quodf' infrag' ditionem totius nostri Imperii possident vel deinceps in iureh' ipsius sancti loci ac episcoporum suorum quolibet more voluerit divina pietas augere, ad causas iudiciali more audiendas vel feudai' exigenda nec mansiones vel paratas faciendas nec ullas redibitiones, tam iustas quam iniustas, requirendas ingerere aut exactare presumat.
Concedimus etiam illi et episcopis eius propter Dei eiusque tantorum sanctorum patrocinia illic adquiescentium ⟨ac ob eum qui a tam longe suo munere nos inviserej' dignatus est, largientes ad helemosinam nostram⟩ privilegium in aquirendis iustitiis, sicut universalis mater nostra Romana ecclesia habet in annos legatosk', ut licea[t]l' memorato venerabili patriarchę ac episcopis suis et Patriarchatui episcopatus sui omnia suarum ecclesiarum mancipia, colonos, advenas, servos ac reliquos qui super earum ecclesiarum terris manent, omni iure et ordine iudicandi [et di]stringendim' singulariter [potestatem]n' habere.
[Statuimus etiam]o' ut nullus in nostro iure commorantium vel comitum [eos]p' aliquo tenore audeat commovere aut ad placitum vel ad aliquam stricturam, sed proprium ad dominum eo tempore viventem sint constringendi aut ad quemlibet super eos constitutum et missum ⟨ac dominorum suorum aut in episcopus animorum episcoporum eorumque missorum voluerit; etiam si quem reditum actenus aliqui eorum locorum terras laborantium alicui vel comiti quocumque modo vel casu aut more pro hoste facienda, precipue Pyranenses, dedissent, granum scilicet oleum vinumve ac reliqua, nullo modo volumus concedant aut id aliquo modo exactare quilibet presumat aut hostem aut donum ab ipsis vel a dominis suis aut super ipsis missis inquirendis vel vassallo, legatio aut quicquid hactenus aliquo fecere, dedere ut modo, sed omni iure et tenore, ut prędiximus, sanctorum quorumq' episcopis tunc degentibus subicient, quod prelibavimus⟩ et pro ecclesiarum rebus familiaresr' [et]s' coloni[s]t' ⟨volumus⟩ singulariter per se possint defendere suo sacramento proprio.
⟨Caprenses quidem et Piranenses ac cęterorum locorum qui sunt et qui erunt de Patriarchatu eiusdemque episcopis et illi usque ad centum solidos de suo proprio valentes aureos concedimus, liceat proprio sacramento iuxta eiusdem Regni ius defendere, et ipsi in omni dictu et actu cum omni suo familiari iure exstrictu dominentur et subiciant perpetuę a presidentibus tum se locaque sancta.⟩
Igitur ut nullius ⟨inferentis⟩ in nostro iure degentis obstaculum vel tergiversatio fiat contra hos nostrę confirmationis apices ⟨fiat⟩ nescienter negligenterve, recapitulando cuncta quae hucusque protulimus, precipientes imperamus, ut quicquid in civitatibus pręnominatis, ut Sipariensiu' et Humago, in quibusve territoriis, [d]omibusv', curtibus, locis desertis, plateis, munitionibus, fossis, stagnis, aquis aquarumque decursibus, insulis, portibus, vinetis, olivetis, molendinis, piscationibus, silvis, venationibus, arbustis, salictis, carectis, saltibus, palludibus, salinis, pratis, pascuis, ripis, rupibus, alpibus, collibus, montibus, opificibus, campis, tam cultis quam incultis, mancipiis, gazis etiamw' legibus Gradensis Patriarchatus eiusque episcopatus habere quocumque modo visumx' est ac retenere, observare in nostra dictione omnes commorantium, quemadmodum supra retulimus, insistant ⟨sive sit aut desit umquam pręceptum genitoris nostri, etiamsi minus aut inepte quidlibet evulgaty' depromens, et omnino precipuę que de aldionibus, servis, colonis, advenis, habitatoribus observent, secundum quod supra retulimus.⟩
⟨Si quis vero hoc temptare presumpserit et observare in integrum neglexerit, quod in capitulari nostro habetur, quod est DCCCC libras, absque dubio componat absolvatque sciens se id compositurum.⟩
⟨Id autem, ut verius stabiliusque ab omnibus in sinu universalis Ecclesię alentibus in nostraque administratione manentibus credatur, hoc confirmationis nostrę pergamenumz' fieri iussimus, precipientes et anuli nostri impressione sigillare fecimus, quemadmodum a nostris antecessoribus in Regno hactenus repertum est atque invenitur capitulario. Nos quoque quod congruum et hactenus dignum et pręcellentius fuit nobis, iuxta quod usque modo factum est in certis edictis regum atque imperatorum, dignum duximus certiorem fidem omnibus nostris fidelibus accomodare, propria manu corroboravimus in signo nostri nominis pęnnam traducentes, ut aeternaliter inconcussum hoc observetur feliciter.⟩
‡Signum‡ (SM).
Gugielmusa'' cancellarius advicem Roibertib'' ⟨archiepiscopi Maguntini atque⟩ archicapellani recognovit ⟨et approbavit feliciter⟩.
Datac'' quartis nonis aprilis, ⟨luna sexta,⟩ indictione secunda, anno ab incarnatione DCCCCLXXIIII, imperii vero ...d''
a) om. T; em. Sickel. b) seq. antedl canc. T. c) antellit T; antecellit em. Sickel. d) tanto T; tantum em. Sickel. e) nostrique T; nostrorumque em. Sickel. f) sedis sancte em. Sickel. g) seq. spatium vacuum circiter 5 litterarum rel. T. h) ędita et docta] sic T; editum est doctum em. Sickel. i) sic T; obsecrantis em. Sickel. j) sic T; sanctique em. Sickel. k) om. T; em. Sickel. l) sic T; innocentium em. Sickel. m) a Traiectu] sic T; ad locum Traiectum em. Sickel. n) subsignavit T. o) sic T; presentiam em. Sickel. p) ex tertio corr. T. q) subsignavit T. r) inimititiam em. Sickel. s) sic T; et em. Sickel. t) sic T; continetur em. Sickel. u) aures T; auresque em. Sickel. v) nostroque T; nostrorumque em. Sickel. w) om. T; em. Sickel. x) sic: pro Gaiaco. y) Rerant leg. Sickel, sed perperam. z) quissent T; quivissent em. Sickel. a') possessiones Patriarchatus add. in marg. sin. T. b') decretum Caroli add. in marg. sin. T. c') vicedecanus em. Sickel. d') sic T: pro loca, sicut em. Sickel. e') sic T; Pirani em. Sickel. f') quae em. Sickel. g') ex corr. T. h') subsignavit T. i') sic T: pro freda, sicut em. Sickel. j') ex corr. T. k') sic T: pro legales, sicut em. Sickel. l') licea T; liceat em. Sickel. m') et distringendi] stringendi T; et distringendi em. Sickel. n') om. T; em. Sickel. o') om. T; em. Sickel. p') om. T; em. Sickel. q') sic T: fort. pro suprascriptorum, sicut coni. Sickel. r') sic T: pro familiis, sicut em. Sickel. s') om. T; em. Sickel. t') coloni T; colonis em. Sickel. u') Sipaties leg. Sickel, sed perperam. v') lac. T; em. Sickel. w') et quitquit em. Sickel. x') sic T: pro visus, sicut em. Sickel. y') subsignavit T. z') ex corr. T. a'') sic T; Willigisus em. Sickel. b'') sic T; Rodberti em. Sickel. c'') seq. quarfer (lect. dub.) subsignavit (pro canc.?) T. d'') sic puncta posuit T.
“Hic [Otto II] existens Werhele eodem anno [DCCCCLXXIIII] privilegium concessit Andoeno capelano et nuncio Vitalis Gradensis patriarche, confirmans Gradensem metropolitanam ecclesiam, et excemciones ac immunitates et libertates quas Otho Is eidem ecclesie concesserat per privilegium renovavit.” – Andrea Dandolo, Chronica per extensum descripta, ed. Ester Pastorello, RIS, ser. 2, 12/1 (Bologna 1958), p. 179.
The charter would be used as a document model for the following papal privileges issued to the Patriarchate of Grado:
Pope John XIX’s privilege issued to the Patriarchate of Grado in December of 1024 – to be edited here presently.
Pope Benedict IX’s privilege issued to the Patriarchate of Grado in April of 1044 – to be edited here presently.
The present charter is preserved in an extremely poor manuscript tradition, having been copied into the Codex Trevisaneus in a highly interpolated and reworked form. To “peel off” the interpolated layers and uncover the original is an almost impossible task, and the fact that the charter was drafted by the recipient and not be the imperial court notaries (see Huschner, cited above) makes the endeavour even harder. This edition follows Sickel’s herculean editorial effort, but readers should be aware that much of this “peeling” is conjectural.
The debate whether the charter should be seen as a (heavily) interpolated authentic document or a downright forgery (actum spurium) is open. As both Sickel and Kehr pronounced the charter an interpolated authentic document, this continues to be the dominant interpretation. However, the arguments in favour of the charter’s authenticity are not many: the fact that Doge-chronicler Andrea Dandolo mentions the charter as well as the previous, nowadays lost charter of Otto I from 967, referenced in this document albeit in a part judged to be interpolated, does not help much; the fact that some parts of this charter would be repeated in authentic papal confirmation charters issued to the patriarchs of Grado (see Medieval Recollections above) does not necessarily speak in favour of this charter’s authenticity, as the forgery could have been modelled upon 11th-century papal charters.
However, close relations between the Venetian ducal family, the Candianos, with the Ottonian emperors speak in favour of imperial support of the Venetian Patriarchate of Grado, helmed by Vitale Candiano, the son of Doge Pietro IV Candiano. As such, it is very probable that Otto I indeed endowed the Patriarchate of Grado with an imperial privilege, recognizing the church as the metropolitan see of the Venetian part of the former ecclesiastical province of Aquileia (the remaining, imperial part of the province was under the metropolitan jurisdiction of the patriarchs of Aquileia). Thus, it is also very probable that Otto II followed in his father’s footsteps and re-issued the confirmation charter to the incumbent patriarch of Grado, perpetuating close relations between Venice and the imperial court. Finally, chancellor “Gugilelmus” and archchancellor “Roidbertus” could indeed be contaminated forms of “Willigisius” and “Rodbertus”, who were indeed the chancellor and archcancellor of the imperial court at the time. For these reasons, the document is interpreted as a heavily interpolated authentic charter in this edition as well.
In the context of Istrian history, the charter is notable for many possessions of the Patriarchate of Grado and its suffragan bishops mentioned in the towns, cities, and castles of the region: Trieste, Koper, Piran, Sipar, Umag, Novigrad, Poreč, Rovinj, Pula and the “castle of St. George” which should be identified as Sv. Juraj (Ital. San Giorgio or Santi Quaranta) between Novigrad and Tar. These exact locations are mentioned in the papal privilege issued to the Patriarchate of Grado by Pope John XIX in December of 1024, an authentic charter preserved in the original (to be edited here presently).
The publication of the facsimile of T (Venice, Archivio di Stato di Venezia, Pacta e aggregati, Codex Trevisaneus, fols. 106r–107r) is granted free of charge by Archivio di Stato di Venezia by way of the “simplified procedure” of publishing archival facsimiles (La circolare della Direzione generale archivi n. 39 del 29 settembre 2017: procedura semplificata: pubblicazioni online che perseguano finalità scientifiche o pedagogiche, non beneficino di inserzioni pubblicitarie o commerciali e non siano soggette ad accesso a pagamento).
The digital facsimile remains under the exclusive copyright of Archivio di Stato di Venezia.