Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram
Encyclopedia
The Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram (Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 14000) is a 9th century illuminated
Gospel Book
. It is named after Emmeram of Regensburg
and lavishly illuminated.
Charles II (the Bald)
in 870 at his Carolingian
Palace School. It is not known for certain where the Palace School was then based (after its previous base at St Martin's Abbey
in Tours was destroyed in 853), but it had probably moved to the Basilica of St Denis outside Paris by the time of the Codex Aureus's production. Charles gave it to Arnulf of Carinthia
. 11th century sources state it was produced in 893 and given to emperor Arnulf of Carinthia
, who in turn donated it to St. Emmeram Abbey, then under abbot Tuto. On secularisation in 1811 it was given to the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich (catalogue reference Clm 14000).
In a decision dated 5 November 1930 at the I. Zivilsenat des Reichsgericht on copyright law, the picture of Charles enthroned in the Codex and a photographic copy of it in a textbook was used as an example, stating "The connection between the written work and a picture in it, the presentation and teaching purpose being to support the text". The admissibility of the removal was denied because it does not adequately serve to illustrate the content. Today, the ruling doctrine of the true premise of the decision that the basic reproduction photography was protected, but no longer.
. It also includes twelve canon tables, ten illuminated initials and incipit
s. The text is written in golden uncial
letters, with each page framed. It measures 420 mm by 330 mm and has 126 vellum
folios.
Its cover is goldplated and decorated with precious gemstones. At the centre of the cover appears Christ in Majesty seated on the globe of the world and holding on his knee a book inscribed with the words
The inclusion of this inscription again identifies the Gospel Book with Christ. The verse makes equal sense if we read the speaker as Christ or as the Gospel Book.
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
Gospel Book
Gospel Book
The Gospel Book, Evangelion, or Book of the Gospels is a codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament...
. It is named after Emmeram of Regensburg
Emmeram of Regensburg
Saint Emmeram of Regensburg was born in Poitiers and was a Christian bishop and a martyr. He died circa 652 and is buried in St. Emmeram's in Regensburg, Germany. His feast day in the Catholic calendar of saints is 22 September.-Life:What we know of Emmeram comes to us second hand...
and lavishly illuminated.
History
It was produced for the Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Charles II (the Bald)
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
in 870 at his Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
Palace School. It is not known for certain where the Palace School was then based (after its previous base at St Martin's Abbey
Basilica of St. Martin, Tours
.Basilica of St. Martin, is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, on whose tomb it was built. It is located in Tours, France....
in Tours was destroyed in 853), but it had probably moved to the Basilica of St Denis outside Paris by the time of the Codex Aureus's production. Charles gave it to Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia was the Carolingian King of East Francia from 887, the disputed King of Italy from 894 and the disputed Holy Roman Emperor from February 22, 896 until his death.-Birth and Illegitimacy:...
. 11th century sources state it was produced in 893 and given to emperor Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia
Arnulf of Carinthia was the Carolingian King of East Francia from 887, the disputed King of Italy from 894 and the disputed Holy Roman Emperor from February 22, 896 until his death.-Birth and Illegitimacy:...
, who in turn donated it to St. Emmeram Abbey, then under abbot Tuto. On secularisation in 1811 it was given to the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich (catalogue reference Clm 14000).
In a decision dated 5 November 1930 at the I. Zivilsenat des Reichsgericht on copyright law, the picture of Charles enthroned in the Codex and a photographic copy of it in a textbook was used as an example, stating "The connection between the written work and a picture in it, the presentation and teaching purpose being to support the text". The admissibility of the removal was denied because it does not adequately serve to illustrate the content. Today, the ruling doctrine of the true premise of the decision that the basic reproduction photography was protected, but no longer.
Content
It was written out by the monks Liuthard and Beringer. Seven full-page miniatures show the four evangelists, Charles the Bald enthroned, the Adoration of the Lamb and a Christ in MajestyChrist in Majesty
Christ in Majesty, or Christ in Glory, in Latin Majestas Domini, is the Western Christian image of Christ seated on a throne as ruler of the world, always seen frontally in the centre of the composition, and often flanked by other sacred figures, whose membership changes over time and according to...
. It also includes twelve canon tables, ten illuminated initials and incipit
Incipit
Incipit is a Latin word meaning "it begins". The incipit of a text, such as a poem, song, or book, is the first few words of its opening line. In music, it can also refer to the opening notes of a composition. Before the development of titles, texts were often referred to by their incipits...
s. The text is written in golden uncial
Uncial
Uncial is a majuscule script commonly used from the 3rd to 8th centuries AD by Latin and Greek scribes. Uncial letters are written in either Greek, Latin, or Gothic.-Development:...
letters, with each page framed. It measures 420 mm by 330 mm and has 126 vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
folios.
Its cover is goldplated and decorated with precious gemstones. At the centre of the cover appears Christ in Majesty seated on the globe of the world and holding on his knee a book inscribed with the words
The inclusion of this inscription again identifies the Gospel Book with Christ. The verse makes equal sense if we read the speaker as Christ or as the Gospel Book.
Further reading
- Walther, Ingo F. and Norbert Wolf. Codices Illustres: The world's most famous illuminated manuscripts, 400 to 1600. Köln, Taschen, 2005.