Duodecim abusivis saeculi
Encyclopedia
De duodecim abusivis saeculi "On the Twelve Abuses of the World" is a treatise on social and political morality written by an anonymous Irish
author between 630 and 700. During the Middle Ages the work was very popular throughout Europe.
, Saint Augustine
, but mainly Saint Cyprian of Carthage -- men of such authority that it explains its acceptance and popularity. It was not until 1909 that Siegmund Hellmann revealed its Pseudo-Cyprian origins to an anonymous Irish author of the 7th century.
There is some direct evidence for the text's popularity in tenth-century England. Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester
is known to have donated a copy to the Peterborough
house. Ælfric of Eynsham
drew on a version included in Abbo of Fleury
's Collectio canonum for his Old English treatise De octo vitiis et de duodecim abusivis gradus, in which the section on the rex iniquus was translated whole.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
author between 630 and 700. During the Middle Ages the work was very popular throughout Europe.
Background
The work was first propagated throughout Europe by Irish missionaries in the 8th century. Its authorship was attributed at different times to Saint PatrickSaint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, Saint Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
, but mainly Saint Cyprian of Carthage -- men of such authority that it explains its acceptance and popularity. It was not until 1909 that Siegmund Hellmann revealed its Pseudo-Cyprian origins to an anonymous Irish author of the 7th century.
Duodecim abusivis saeculi
De duodecim condemns the following twelve abuses:| Abusivis | Abuse |
|---|---|
| sapiens sine operibus | the wise man without works |
| senex sine religione | the old man without religion |
| adolescens sine oboedientia | the young man without obedience |
| dives sine elemosyna | the rich man without charity |
| femina sine pudicitia | the woman without modesty |
| dominus sine virtute | the nobleman without virtue |
| Christianius contentiosus | the argumentative Christian |
| pauper superbus | the proud pauper |
| rex iniquus | the unjust king |
| episcopus neglegens | the neglectful bishop |
| plebs sine disciplina | the community without order |
| populus sine lege | the people without a law |
Influence
Hellmann points out the extensive influence of the work upon Carolingian writings, such as the mirrors for princes, and later political literature.There is some direct evidence for the text's popularity in tenth-century England. Bishop Æthelwold of Winchester
Æthelwold of Winchester
Æthelwold of Winchester , was Bishop of Winchester from 963 to 984 and one of the leaders of the tenth century monastic reform movement in Anglo-Saxon England....
is known to have donated a copy to the Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
house. Ælfric of Eynsham
Ælfric of Eynsham
Ælfric of Eynsham was an English abbot, as well as a consummate, prolific writer in Old English of hagiography, homilies, biblical commentaries, and other genres. He is also known variously as Ælfric the Grammarian , Ælfric of Cerne, and Ælfric the Homilist...
drew on a version included in Abbo of Fleury
Abbo of Fleury
Abbo of Fleury , also known as Abbon or Saint Abbo was a monk, and later abbot, of the Benedictine monastery of Fleury sur Loire near Orléans, France....
's Collectio canonum for his Old English treatise De octo vitiis et de duodecim abusivis gradus, in which the section on the rex iniquus was translated whole.
Further reading
- Hellmann, Siegmund (ed.). Ps.-Cyprianus. De xii abusiuis saeculi. Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur 34. Leipzig, 1909.
- Anton, Hans Hubert. "Pseudo-Cyprian: De duodecim abusivis saeculi und sein Einfluss auf den Kontinent, insbesondere auf die karolingischen Fürstenspiegel." In Die Iren und Europa im früheren Mittelalter vol 2, ed. Heinz Löwe. Stuttgart, 1982. 568-617.
- Anton, Hans Hubert. "Zu neueren Wertung Pseudo-Cyprians ('De duodecim abusivis saeculi') und zu seinem Vorkommen in Bibliothekskatalogen des Mittelalters." Würzburger Diözesangeshichtsblätter 51 (1989): 463-74.
- Breen, Aidan. "Pseudo-Cyprian De Duodecim Abusivis and the Bible." Irland und die Christenheit: Bibelstudien und Mission, ed. Próinséas Ní Chatháin and Michael Richter. Stuttgart, 1987. 230-45.
- Breen, Aidan. "The evidence of antique Irish exegesis in Pseudo-Cyprian, De duodecim abusivis saeculi." Proceedings of the Royal Irisch Academy 87 (1987), Section C. 71-101.
- Meens, Rob. "Politics, Mirrors of Princes and the Bible: Sins, Kings and the Well-being of the Realm." Early Medieval Europe 7 (1998): 345-57.
- Ó'Néill, Pádraig P. "De Duodecim Abusivis Saeculi". Dictionary of the Middle AgesDictionary of the Middle AgesThe Dictionary of the Middle Ages is a 13-volume encyclopedia of the Middle Ages published by the American Council of Learned Societies between 1982 and 1989. It was first conceived and started in 1975 with American medieval historian Joseph Strayer of Princeton University as editor-in-chief...
. vol-4. 1989. ISBN 0-684-17024-8
- ÆlfricÆlfric of EynshamÆlfric of Eynsham was an English abbot, as well as a consummate, prolific writer in Old English of hagiography, homilies, biblical commentaries, and other genres. He is also known variously as Ælfric the Grammarian , Ælfric of Cerne, and Ælfric the Homilist...
's De octo vitiis et de duodecim abusivis gradus: the text in Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 178, ed. R. Morris, Old English Homilies. Early English Texts Society 29, 34. First Series. 2 vols. London, 1868. 296-304; the text in London, British Library, MS. Cotton Vespasian D.XIV, ed. Ruby D.-N. Warner, Early English Homilies from the Twelfth-Century MS. Vespasian D.XIV. EETS 152. London, 1917. 11-9. A new edition by Mary Clayton is forthcoming.
See also
- Irish peopleIrish peopleThe Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
- Hiberno-LatinHiberno-LatinHiberno-Latin, also called Hisperic Latin, was a learned sort of Latin literature created and spread by Irish monks during the period from the sixth century to the tenth century.-Vocabulary and Influence:...
- Mirrors for princes
- Collectio canonum HibernensisCollectio canonum HibernensisThe Collectio canonum Hibernensis is a systematic Latin collection of canon law, scriptural and patristic excerpts, and Irish synodal and penitential decrees...
- Wisdom LiteratureWisdom literatureWisdom literature is the genre of literature common in the Ancient Near East. This genre is characterized by sayings of wisdom intended to teach about divinity and about virtue...