Recherches sur l'accession à l'épiscopat aux temps mérovingiens (481/82-691/722)
Institution:
Paris 4Disciplines:
Directors:
Abstract EN:
S'agissant de l'etude des modalites du choix du futur prelat durant l'epoque proprement merovingienne, nous avons observe une certaine preponderance du principe populaire de l'election clero et populo, qui se traduit par la coutume d'un decretum souscrit par le clerge et le peuple du lieu de la vacance ; envoyee au college episcopal de la province ecclesiastique, cette ratification emanee du populus christianus et visant son propre choix precede la sentence (judicium) des eveques. Plus encore : elle semble exclure ces derniers de l'electio. Mais du fait meme du caractere d'unanimitas que le choix aura generalement revetu, dieu se sera exprime a travers ceux qui auront ete ainsi touches ; il en decoulera la conscience et le temoignage touchant les qualites insignes de celui qui est mis en position d'acceder a cette charge supreme. Quant-a l'intervention du rex francorum lors de l'avenement d'un eveque, elle n'apparait qu'aux derniers stades de la procedure, tout d'abord, pour infirmer ou confirmer le choix du clerge et du peuple, puis pour ordonner aux eveques de la province concernee de proceder a l'ordinatio de leur collegue. C'est en effet pendant cette ceremonie du sacre que les pre
Abstract FR:
In studying the methods used for the choice of future prelates during the merovingian era properly speaking, we have observed a certain preponderance of popular election clero et populo ; which is evidently visible through the custom of a decretum underwritten by the clergy and people of a vancant see ; sent to the episcopal college of the ecclesiastical province, this ratification produced by the populus christianus and concerning its own choice thus precedes the decision (judicium) of the bishops. Moreover, it seems to exclude the latter from the electio. But, owing to the very character of unanimitas with which the election is generally endowed, god will have expressed himself through those who have thus been touched ; from which ensue the awareness and the proof of the eminent qualities of the man who has been put into a position to accede to this high office. As for the intervention of the rex francorum at a bishop's accession, this only appears in the last stages of the procedure, firstly, to confirm or annul the choice of the clergy and people, and then to instruct the bishops of the province concerned to proceed to the ordinatio of their colleague. In fact, it is during this ceremony of consecration