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Nicholas of Cusa: ‘On Presidential Authority in a General Council’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

H. Lawrence Bond ,
Geerald Christianson  and
Thomas M. Izbicki
H. Lawrence Bond
Affiliation:
Professor of history in AppalachianState University, Boone, North Carolina
Geerald Christianson
Affiliation:
Professor of church history in Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsykvania
Thomas M. Izbicki
Affiliation:
Hisstorical studies librarian in The WishitaState University, Wichita, Kansas.
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Extract

In late 1433, after two years of intrigue and negotiations, Pope Eugenius IV agreed to acknowledge the legitimate existence of the Council of Basel. The recently crowned Emperor Sigismund had gone to Basel, and numberous clerics, including many cardinals, had abandoned the curia for the council. An obstreperous duke of Milan threatened the papal states “in the name of the holy synod,” and in May 1434 the populace of Rome rebelled, foreing the pope to flee down the Tiber.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 59 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 19 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1990

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References

1. See, among others, Creighton, M., A History of the Papacy from the Great Schism to the Sack af Rome, 6 vols, rev. ed. (London, 1914), 2:199–234;Google ScholarPastor, L., History of the Popes, ed. Antrobus, F., 6 vols. (London, 1891), 1:282–295.Google Scholar

2. Monumenta conciliorum generalium seculi decimi quinti, ed. F. Palacky et al., 4 vols. (Vienna and Basel, 1857–1935), 2:565–574Google Scholar(hereafter cited as MCG); Conciliorum oecumenzcorum nova et amplissima collectio, ed. J. D. Mansi, 53 vols. (Paris, 1901–1927), 29:col. 78–90Google Scholar (hereafter cited as Mansi). See also Christianson, G., Cesarini: The Conciliar Cardinal (St. Ottilien, 1979), pp. 27–69, 92–112,Google Scholar with further bibliography.

3. MCC, 2:561–564.

4. Ibid., 2:602–605; Mansi 29:575–578. In the absence of Orsini, Foix, and Angelloto, Eugenius nominated three stand-ins: Berardi himself, the bishop of Padua, the abbot of Santa Giustina.

5. MCG, 2:602.

6. MCG, 2:605–606. The abrupt closing of the Council of Pavia-Siena (1424) may have influenced reaction to the nomination of additional presidents; see Creighton, , History of the Papacy, 2:149–150.Google Scholar For the best history of that council, see Brandmiüller, W., Das Konzil von Pavia-Siena 1423–1424, 2 vols. (Munster, 1974).Google Scholar

7. Mansi, 29:590; Conciliorum oecumenicorum decreta, ed. Alberigo, et al. (Bologna, 1973), pp. 408–409.Google Scholar

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10. MCG, 2:605–617.

11. Ibid., 2:607.

12. Ibid., 2:608. On Gonzalez, see Meuthen, E., “Juan González, Bischof von Cádiz, auf dem Basler Konzil,” Annuarium Historiae Concitiorum 8 (1976): 250–293.Google Scholar

13. MCC, 2:614. On Torquemada, see Izbicki, T. M., Protector of the Faith: Cardinal Johannes de Turrecremata and the Defense of the Institutional Church (Washington, 1981);Google ScholarBlack, A., Monarchy and Community: Political Ideas in the Later Conciliar Controversy (Cambridge, 1970), PP. 73–84;Google Scholar both with additional bibliography.

14. MCG, 2:610.

15. Ibid., 2:631. For an edition of Segovia's tract, see n. 9 above.

16. MCG, 2:605–606.

17. Meuthen, E., Das Trier Schisma von 1430 auf dem Basler Konzil: Zum Leberisgeschzchte des Nikolaus von Kues (Munster, 1964)Google Scholar.

18. MCG, 2:612–613.

19. Cusa frequently quoted or refered to passages from De concordantia, as the notes to the translation demonstrate; seen. 51 below. For Cusanus's earliest ecclesiological tract, see Meuthen, E., “Kanonistik und Geschichtsverständnis. Über em neuendecktes Werk des Niklaus von Kues: De matoritate auctoritalis sacrorum conciliorum supra auctoritatem papae,” Von Konstanz nach Trient: Festgabe fur A. Franzen, ed. Baümer, R. (Munich, 1972), pp. 147–170.Google Scholar

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21. Haubst, R., “Der Leitgedanke der repraesentatio in der cusanischen Ekklesiologie,” Mitteilungen und Forschungsbeiträge der Cusanus-Geseltschaft 9 (1971): 140–165;Google ScholarPernthaler, P., “Die Reprasentationslehre im Staatsdenken der Concordantia Catholica,” Cusanus Gedächtnisschrift, ed Grass, N. (Innsbruck and Munich, 1970), pp. 45–99.Google Scholar

22. MCG, 2:617.

23. Ibid., 2:629–645.

24. Ibid., 2:645–646.

25. Ibid., 2:647, 649–650.

26. Ibid., 2:7 13; Mansi, 29:91. In theory, the joint presidency lasted until the papal presidents left Basel, the last in May 1436; but, in practice, it meant little.

27. Creighton, , History of the Papacy, 2:268–277;Google ScholarZwölfer, R., “Die Reform der Kirchenverfassung auf dem Konzil zum Basel,” Basler Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Alterumskunde 28 (1929): 141–247 and 29 (1930): 1–58;Google ScholarChristianson, , Cesarini, pp. 125–148.Google Scholar

28. Gill, J., The Council of Florence (Cambridge, 1959), pp. 85–130;Google ScholarCreighton, , History of the Papacy, 2:267–273, 295–307;Google ScholarChristianson, , Cesarini, pp. 149–180.Google Scholar For Cusanus's papalist writings, see Sigmund, , Nicholas of Cusa, pp. 236–238, 266–271;Google ScholarKallen, , pp. 106–112,Google Scholar editing the letter to Rodrigo Sánchez de Arévalo; Vagades, A., Das Konztl über dem Papst? Die Stellungnahmen des Nikolaus von Kuec und des Panormitanus zum Streit zwischen dem Konzil von Basel und Eugen IV, 2 vols. (Paderborn, 1981)Google Scholar; Meuthen, E., “Nikolaus von Kues: Dialogus concludens Amedistarum errorem ex gestis et doctrina concth Basiliensis,” Mitteilungen und Forschungsbeitrage der Cusanus Gesellschaft 8 (1970): 11–114.Google Scholar

29. Kallen, p. 43.

30. Gill, , Council of Florence, pp. 61–63, 73–74, 83–84;Google Scholaridem, Eugenius IV: Pope of Christian Unity (Westminster, Md., 1961), p. 52;Google Scholaridem, Personalities of the Council of Florence and Other Essays (New York, 1964), p. 99.Google Scholar

31. Pastor, , History of the Popes, 1:308.Google Scholar

32. Alberigo, G., Chiesa conciliare (Brescia, 1981), pp. 293–340.Google Scholar

33. Black, , Council and Commune, p. 56.Google Scholar

34. Tierney, B., “Divided Sovereignty at Constance: A Problem of Medieval and Early Modern Political Theory,” Annuarium Historiae Conciliorum 7 (1975): 238–256.Google Scholar

35. See especially Black, Council and Commune; Tierney, B., Church Law and Constitutional Thought in the Middle Ages (London, 1979)Google Scholar; Oakley, F., Natural Law, unciliarism and Consent in the Late Middle Ages (Ithaca, N.Y., 1979)Google Scholar.

36. Baümer, R., Nachwirkungen des konziliaren Gedankens in der Theologie und Kanonistik des frühen 16. Jahrhunderts (Munich, 1971)Google Scholar; Izbicki, T. M., “Papalist Reaction to the Council of Constance: Juan de Torquemada to the Present,” Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture 55 (1986): 7–20;CrossRefGoogle ScholarHorst, U., Zwischen Konziliarismus und Reformation: Studien zur Ekklesiologie im Dominikanerorden (Rome, 1986)Google Scholar.

37. Math. 18:20.

38. Mansi, 6:627.

39. Math. 28:20.

40. See n. 8 above.

41. KaIlen's, reading Dei liberatore at p. 101.Google Scholar 17 is an inappropriate emendation of deliberatore which is emended to liberatore in Mansi, 16:199.

42. Mansi, 16:32–33, citing Math. 16:19.

43. Mansi, 16:33.

44. Cusanus's, use of decreti at p. 12Google Scholar I. 14 is typical of medieval manuscripts; see, however, Mansi, 6:619, which has decernendi.

45. Magnus, Gregorius, Registrum epistolarum librz 1–VI, ed. Norberg, D. (Turnholt, 1982), p. 332:Google Scholar Lib. V, ep. 44.

46. Ibid., p. 309: Lib. V, ep. 37.

47. Corpus iuris canonici, ed. E. Friedberg, 2 vols. (1879; reprint, Graz, 1955), 1:494Google Scholar(C. 2 q. 7 c. 35) (hereafter cited as Friedberg).

48. Mansi, 6:1046–1047.

49. Ibid., 11:554–559.

50. Ibid., 16:189.

51. Nicolai de Cusa opera omnia, vol. 14, De concordantia catholica libri tres, ed. G. Kallen (Hamburg, 1963), pp. 80–90:Google Scholar Lib. I, c. 17 (hereafter cited as De concordantia.).

52. Lk. 22:32; Math. 28:20.

53. 1 Cor. 11:26.

54. Kallen, wrongly gives this citation as “Lev. 14 and 27” at p. 161.Google Scholar 6.

55. Math. 23:3.

56. De concordania, p. 65: Lib. I, c. 9, citing Augustinus, De correctione donatistarum; compare Augustinus, Contra litteras Petilzani libri tres, ed. M. Petschenig (Vienna, 1909), pp. 95–96:Google Scholar Lib. II, c. 138.

57. Jn. 17:21.

58. Math. 23:2.

59. Milevitanus, Optatus, [Contra Parmenianurn], ed. Ziwsa, C. (Prague, 1893), p. 36:Google Scholar Lib. II, c. 2.

60. Gregorius, , Registrum, p. 50:Google Scholar Lib. VII, ep. 37.

61. Conciliorum oecumenicorum decreta, pp. 8–9: c. 6.

62. Friedberg, 1:568 (C. 7 q. 1 c. 6).

63. Hieronymus, , Adversus Jovinzanum libri duo, in Patrologial Cursus Corn plelus… Series Latina, ed. Migne, J. P., 221 vols in 223 (Paris 1844–1891), 23:258–259Google Scholar(hereafter cited as PL).

64. Friedberg, 1:327–329 (D. 93 c. 24); ibid., 1:332–333 (D. 95 c. 5).

65. Ibid., 1:73–74 (D. 22 c. 2).

66. Ibid., 1:69–70 (D. 21 c. 2).

67. Glossa ordinaria ad C. 2 q. 7 c. 35 in Decretum Gratiani (Lyons, 1554), p.471.Google Scholar

68. de Segusio, Henricus (Hostiensis), Summa aurea (1574; reprint, Turin, 1963),Google Scholar ff. 347–356.

69. Lyrensis, Nicolaus, Bibtia sacra corn glossis inter1ineari el ordinaria, 7 vols. (Lyons, 1545),Google Scholar 5:ff. 243ra, 243va.

70. Ibid., 5:1. 52va-b.

71. See n. 62 above.

72. See n. 65 above.

73. See n. 55 above.

74. Compare Math. 18:20.

75. Conciliorum oecumenicorum decreta, p. 7: c. 4.

76. Friedberg, 1:565 (C. 6 q. 4 c. 7).

77. Concuiliorurn oecurnenicorurn decreta, p. 179: c. 17.

78. Mansi, 11:875.

79. Friedberg, 1:34–35 (D. 15 c. p 7).

80. Mansi, 16:185.

81. Acts 15:28; Acts 4:32.

82. Mansi, 16:86.

83. This passage is from act five, not six; see Mansi, 16:80.

84. Augustinus, , Epistola XLIII, PL, 33:169Google Scholar

85. Epistola de causa Bonosi, PL, 16:1223. Cusanus's conjecture about the authorship of this letter, found in De concordanltia, pp. 195–197: Lib. II, c. 18, controversial even in his own day, has not found favor since, accordng to PL, 16:1222 n. 51.

86. Friedberg, 1:1008–1009 (C. 25 q. I c. 7).

87. Mansi, 16:87.

88. Compare Conciliorum oecumenicorom decreta, pp. 166–167.

89. De concordantia, pp. 206–232: Lib. II, c. 20.

90. Decretales Pseudo-Isidorianae, ed. Hinschius, P. (1863; reprint, Aalen, 1963), pp. 32–52.Google Scholar

91. Friedberg 2:971 (Sext. 1.7.1).

92. De concordantia, pp. 233–236: Lib. II, c. 21.

93. de Baysio, Guido (Archidiaconus), Archidiaconus super decreto (Lyons, 1549),Google Scholar ff. 206vb- 207ra.

94. Conciliorum oecurnenicororn decreta, pp. 179–180: c. 17.

95. Friedberg, 1:606 (C. 9 q. 3 c. 2).

96. De concordantia, pp. 236–239: Lib. II, c. 22.

97. Friedberg, 1:46 (D. 16 c. 8).

98. For Boniface, understand Pasehasinus, who did sign; see Conciliorurn oecumenicorum decreta, p. 102: poct c. 30, and Mansi, 6:400–401, 983–986.

99. Freidberg, 1:449 (C. 2 q. I c. 21).

100. Seen. 76 above.

101. Friedberg, 1:1284 (C. 35 q. 9 c. 3); Kallen has “C. 36” at p. 321. 13.

102. I, Leo, Epiitola XXXIII, PL., 54:799.Google Scholar (The phrase “I send them in my place” is a paraphrase, which is followed by an exact quote.)

103. Damasus, , Epistola I, PL, 13:349;Google ScholarI, Leo, Epistola XLIV, PL, 54:827–831.Google Scholar

104. De coneordanoa, pp. 108–112: Lib. II, c. 5.

105. Mansi, 11:235.

106. Seen. 98 above.

107. Seen. 103 above.