Földvári Books

A 12th-Century Papal Bull

Pope Celestine III

[Papal Bull] Confirmation of Privileges for the Monastery of San Pietro in Bovara

Issued at the Lateran Palace in Rome. Dated 1193, in the 3rd year of Pope Celestine III’s papacy. Written in Caroline minuscule script. On folded parchment measuring approximately 745 x 580 mm. With remnants of silk lacings, and small holes at the foldings. Overall in very good condition.

1193 papal bull by Pope Celestine III, confirming the privileges of the Abbey of San Pietro in Bovara di Trevi, bearing the signatures of both Pope Celestine III and Lotario dei Conti di Segni, who later became Pope Innocent III.

This late 12th-century manuscript on vellum is a papal bull, a Solemn Privilege (Great Bull) issued by Pope Celestine III. Written in Caroline minuscule, it features exaggerated ascenders and descenders. The bull opens with tightly spaced, elongated calligraphic letterforms, beginning with the Pope’s name, Celestine, followed by the formal preamble of the privilegium granted to the Abbey of San Pietro a Bovara di Trevi. The body of the text concludes with the affirmation, "Amen."

At the end of the document appears the papal rota of Pope Celestine III, featuring the cross and the names of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, as well as the Pope’s name ("Celestine PP III") inscribed within the two concentric circles. Between the circles is his personal motto, "Perfice gressus meos in semitis tuis" (‘Make my steps perfect in thy ways’ (Ps. 16 (17): 5)). To the right, the Pope’s name appears as "Ego Celestinus Catholice Eccle[sie] Ep[iscopu]s," followed by "SS" (the abbreviated subscripsi, meaning "I have subscribed"), with the initial "E" in the Pope’s hand, a tradition begun by Alexander III. To the right of the Pope’s name is the Bene Valete monogram, or "Farewell," marking the document’s conclusion.

Beneath the Pope’s signature are the countersignatures of nineteen high-ranking church officials, listed in three columns according to their seniority: Cardinal Bishops, Cardinal Priests, and Cardinal Deacons. Among the signatories is Lotario dei Conti di Segni, who would later become Pope Innocent III. The document also holds Hungarian relevance, with the signatures of Cardinal Gregorio de San Apostolo and Cardinal Gregorius de Crescentio, who were legates to Hungary regarding the canonization of Ladislaus I of Hungary. Each cardinal’s name is preceded by crosses and concludes with the abbreviated subscripsi, confirming their endorsement. At the very bottom, just before the fold, the document is dated "Dat. Latern. per manum Egidii Anagni […]" (Given at the Lateran by the hand of Egidio di Anagni, papal chancery). It was issued on December 3, 1193, marking the third year of Pope Celestine III's papacy.

The privilege was granted to the Abbey of San Pietro a Bovara, located near Trevi in Umbria, a Benedictine monastery with a history dating back to the early medieval period. It was first documented just fifteen years before this bull, in 1177, when Pope Alexander III confirmed its jurisdiction over several local churches. Situated in the hills of central Italy, the abbey is surrounded by agricultural lands that have been part of its heritage. In this document, Pope Celestine III confirmed the monastery's control over these lands, including several vineyards, and granted protection against secular interference. The bull affirmed the monastery's rights and autonomy, ensuring the continued preservation of its possessions and traditions.

This document reflects the typical legal practices of the medieval papacy in affirming monastic rights and privileges, which were central to the Church's strategy for resisting secular influence. This reinforced the power of both the papacy and the Benedictine order during a time of contested ecclesiastical and secular authority.

Pope Celestine III (elected in 1191) was a member of the powerful Orsini family and served as pope during a turbulent time for the Catholic Church, when the papacy was frequently engaged in conflicts with both secular rulers and local bishops. His pontificate focused heavily on consolidating papal authority, and this document is a reflection of his efforts to strengthen the Church's control.

Such early papal documents are extremely rare on the market. We could not find any record of a sale of a papal bull from Celestine III in RBH or elsewhere on the market, except for this one.

Literature: Barabás, G. (2019). The life and Hungarian legations of Cardinal Gregorius de Crescentio. In G. Kiss & G. Barabás (Eds.), In Spécimina nova pars prima séctio médiaévalis (pp. 53–80). Pécs: University of Pécs; Doran, J., & Smith, D. J. (Eds.). (2016). Pope Celestine III (1191–1198): Diplomat and pastor. In Church, faith and culture in the medieval West. Routledge; Jaffé, P. (Ed.). (1888). Regesta pontificum romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII. Vol. 2, pp. 577–644). Leipzig, Veit & Comp.; Solymosi, L. (2021). Szent László király sírja, kultusza és szentté avatása [The tomb, cult, and canonization of King Saint Ladislaus]. In Székfoglaló előadások a Magyar Tudományos Akadémián. Magyar Tudományos Akadémia.

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Price: €15,000.00