Some popular prophecies from the fourteenth to the seventeenth centuries1

Marjorie E. Reeves

doi:10.1017/S0424208400005465

Some popular prophecies from the fourteenth to the seventeenth centuries1

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2016

Marjorie E. Reeves

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Marjorie E. Reeves*: Affiliation:
St Anne’s College, Oxford

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In the summer of 1304 the leaders of the Spiritual Franciscan party in Italy, Fra Angelo Clareno and Fra Liberato, were gathered with their followers in Perugia. They had recently returned from exile in the east. Benedict XI was dead and western Christendom awaited the outcome of what was to be one of the most crucial papal elections in the later Middle Ages. It was to be a trial of strength between the pro-and anti-French parties, accompanied by much political manœuvring, rumour and bargaining. In the interval, while the political groups were mustering their forces, there appeared a set of prophecies of the popes, called the Vaticinia de summis pontificibus, which can with some confidence be ascribed to the little group at Perugia. Seldom in history can the gap between hope and political reality have been wider. The Spiritual Franciscans were thinking in terms of heilsgeschichte, and for them the crisis of all history was at hand, while cardinals Napoleone degli Orsini, Nicholas of Prato, and others were laying down the tortuous lines of the intrigues which resulted in the election of Clement V and the removal of the papacy to Avignon. It is only through these prophecies that we can discern the high expectations and pent-up emotion with which this moment was approached by some at least. Though the moment passed and salvation drew not nigh, there was some powerful force of attraction in these prophecies: they were seized on immediately, quickly disseminated and imitated. Why was this?

Type: Research Article
Information: Studies in Church History , Volume 8: Popular Belief and Practice , 1972 , pp. 107 - 134

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0424208400005465 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1972

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For permission to reproduce illustrations used in this paper the author and publisher are grateful to: the Bodleian Library, Oxford for reproductions from the MS Douce 88 and the MS Barocci 170 (both of which are available on the Bodleian colour filmstrips Oracles of Leo the Wise’ roll 190E and ‘Prophecies of the Popes’ roll 218.10); and to the Biblioteca Riccardiana, Florence for reproductions from, the MS Riccardi 1222B.

References

^{page no 107 note 2} The pioneer work on these prophecies was done by Grundmann, [H.], [‘Die Papst – prophetien des Mittelalters’,] A[rchivfür] K[ulturgeschichte], XIX (Berlin 1929) pp 77-159Google Scholar; [‘Die Liber de Flore’,] Historisches] J[ahrbuch], XLIX (Munich 1929) pp 33-91. This paper assumes that he was right in ascribing the Vaticinia to Clareno and his group in 1304. This ascription and date are, however, not quite certain. The terminus ante quem is given by Pipini’s reference (below, p 111). Since pictures and text follow the Byzantine model closely, captions are the best internal guide for dating. These suggest a date after the election of Celestine V (1294) but the evidence is sufficiently ambiguous to leave a possibility that they were composed before Boniface VIII was elected.

^{page no 108 note 1} See Joachim of Fiore, Liber Concordie (Venice 1519) fols 6г, 21г-22г, 58г, 89v-90r, 106vGoogle Scholar; Expositio in Apocalypsim (Venice 1527) fols 95V, 195г.

^{page no 108 note 2} See Reeves, [M.], The Influence of Prophecy [in the Later Middle Ages] (Oxford 1969)pp 191–4 Google Scholar.

^{page no 108 note 3} Ibid, p 401.

^{page no 108 note 4} Ibid, pp 242-8.

^{page no 109 note 1} The tradition that the first prophecy was intended for Nicholas III is universal from Pipini onwards. See below, p 115, for the caption to Celestine V.

^{page no 109 note 2} Grundmann, , AK, XIX (1929) p 107 Google Scholar; HJ, XLIX (1929) p 41. The clue to the source of the Vaticinia was given by a sixteenth-century editor who rejected the suggestion (below, P 124).

^{page no 109 note 3} See Mango, [C.], [‘ The Legend of Leo the Wise ‘], Recueil [des travaux de l’Institut d’études byzantines], VI (Belgrade 1960) pp 59–93 Google Scholar; Knös, B., ‘Les oracles [de Léon le Sage’, AΦIEPωMAΣTH MNHMH TOY MANOΛH TPIANTAΦYΛΛIΔΗ] (Salonica 1960) pp 155-88Google Scholar. Knös wrote his article on a newly identified MS of the Oracles in the Royal Library at Stockholm without knowledge of their use in the Vaticinia. Thus he believes that the later oracles were written after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Both the above articles reproduce the pictures of the Oracles.

^{page no 109 note 4} Mango, , Recueil, VI (1960) pp 62-4Google Scholar.

^{page no 109 note 5} Ibid, p 65, where it is argued that these were not post eventum prophecies but already in circulation when applied to specific emperors. The argument in itself does not seem quite conclusive, but finds support if the legend of pope Gregory was derived from this source (see below, p 131), since this would provide evidence for the circulation of one of the Oracles, at least, in France by the second half of the twelfth century.

^{page no 109 note 6} Ibid, p 65.

^{page no 109 note 7} No MSS earlier than the fourteenth century appear to have survived (see Mango, ibid, pp 79-80). The version I have chiefly used is that edited by P. Lambecius for Codinus, G., Excerpte de Antiquitatibus Constantinopolitanis (Venice 1729)Google Scholar.

^{page no 110 note 1} The serpent and crows is a motif found elsewhere, the birds perhaps symbolising the perpetual enemies of Byzantium from east and west. The eagle symbolises the Byzantine empire (see Knös, Les Oracles, pp 166-9).

^{page no 110 note 2} Below, p 113 n 1.

^{page no 110 note 3} In some versions the rose is replaced by a candlestick. See below, p 112, for the connection of this figure with Andronicus I.

^{page no 110 note 4} Nicetas says that Isaac II Angelus resembled a bull and applied this prophecy to himself. The text is based on verses which, Nicetas says, were circulating at the time (see Mango, , Recueil, VI (1960) p 63 Google Scholar; Knös, Les Oracles, p 175).

^{page no 110 note 5} Since it carries a crescent on its flank, this unicorn should signify the Mohammedan power.

^{page no 110 note 6} Knös, Les Oracles, pp 181-2, interprets this figure as a young woman representing Con stantinople weeping over her fate, but the main manuscript tradition seems clearly to indicate a male hermit, as does its use in the Vaticinia.

^{page no 110 note 7} In all versions the ‘mummified’ emperor lies supported on the backs of two animals, a detail which survives in curious forms in some early versions of the Vaticinia. The angel is usually holding a crown, but in the Stockholm MS is anointing the emperor with nard (Knös, Les Oracles, p 182).

^{page no 110 note 8} Again, in the Stockholm MS (ibid, p 185) the angel pours nard over the emperor.

^{page no 111 note 1} Pipini, F., Chronica, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores, old series, IX (Milan 1721) cols 724, 726, 727, 728, 736,741,747,751Google Scholar. On authorship Pipini says: Fertur a nomuttis Abbatem Joachi-mum libelli huius spiritu prophetico fuisse auctorem. For the MSS, see table, pp 132-3. There is, apparently, another early MS at Palermo, but I have been unable to study this, or to see Danen-Lattanzi, A.’s arride on it-’I “Vaticinia de Pontificibus” ed un codice monrealise del sec. XIII-XIV, Atti della Reale Accademia di Scienze Lettere e Arti di Palermo, 4 Series, 111, pt 2, fasc 4 (Palermo 1944) pp 757-92 and plates I-IVGoogle Scholar.

^{page no 112 note 1} See table, pp 132-3.

^{page no 113 note 1} For Nicetas’s reference, see Mango, , Recueil, VI (1960) p 65 Google Scholar. On Mango’s argument Andronicus would have been applying the prophecies to himself, but if they were in the making in the later twelfth century the influence could be the other way round. The head of the man in civilian head-dress also, I suggest, bears a relation to Andronicus’ portrait.

^{page no 113 note 2} Above, p 110, n 7.

^{page no 114 note 1} In some of these last pictures the mitre appears to be derived from the bowl from which the angel pours nard in one version of the Oracles of Leo.

^{page no 114 note 2} See below, p 123, for differing interpretations of this figure.

^{page no 114 note 3} See below, pp 123, 125.

^{page no 115 note 1} On the Liber de Fiore, see Grundmann, , HJ, XLIX (1929) pp 33–91 Google Scholar

^{page no 116 note 1} For MSS of the Liber de Flore, see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, p 523; of the Vaticinia, see Russo, [F.], Bibliografia [Gioachimita] (Florence 1954) pp 41-8Google Scholar.

^{page no 116 note 2} De victoria Christi contra Antichristum (Nuremberg 1471) unpaged, Ch XXVIII.

^{page no 116 note 3} See de] Dmitrewski, [M., [‘Fr.Bernard, Délicieux O.F.M., sa lutte contra l’Inquisition de Carcassonne et d’Albi, son procès, 1297-1319], A[rchivum] F[ranciscanum] H[istoricum] XVII (Quaracchi 1924) p 472 Google Scholar.

^{page no 117 note 1} In Influence of Prophecy, p 202,1 assumed wrongly that this referred to the Vaticinia. Since the precise date of the Vaticinia is uncertain, there is a possibility that they were composed earlier than the date I have suggested here but no early MSS contain wheels. On the other hand, the Vaticinia do appear in wheel form in sixteenth-century editions (below, p 127), so possibly there was an early model for these which should be connected with another work in this group, the Horoscopus mentioned by Grandmann, AK, XIX (1929) p 107; HJ, XLIX (1929) p 40.

^{page no 117 note 2} See Dmitrewski, , AFH, XVII (1924) p 332 Google Scholar.

^{page no 117 note 3} Either the ninth or the tenth in the series.

^{page no 117 note 4} Dmitrewski, , AFH, XVII (1924) p 332, In 3 Google Scholar.

^{page no 117 note 5} Grundmann, , AK, XIX (1929) pp 117-24Google Scholar. Printed editions are numerous.

^{page no 118 note 1} Number five in the series.

^{page no 118 note 2} Number six.

^{page no 118 note 3} See below, p 126.

^{page no 118 note 4} Number nine in the series.

^{page no 118 note 5} Jean, de Roquetaillade (Rupescissa), Vade Mecum, ed Brown, E., Appendix ad Fasciculum Rerum Expetendarum et Fugiendarum ab Orthuino Gratio editum Coloniae MDXXXV, 11 (London 1690) p 501 Google Scholar.

^{page no 118 note 6} Rev. 12:4.

^{page no 119 note 1} Yale, University Library MS, T. E. Marston Coll. 225, fols 16-23.

^{page no 119 note 2} Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, MS 404, fols 41г, 88г-95г.

^{page no 120 note 1} Fol 95г, cf above, p 114.

^{page no 120 note 2} British Museum MS Arundel 117, fols 137r-52r. This MS was compiled by someone interested in the past and future of the papacy. He included in it, besides the Vaticinia, several pontifical histories and lists, the Joachimist work of Telesphorus of Cosenza, prophesying schism and renovatio under the angelic popes, and Henry of Langenstein’s refutation of this work.

^{page no 120 note 3} British Museum MS Harley 1340, fols 1r - 15V. See Berenson, B., ‘Miniatures probably by the Master of the San Miniato altar piece’, Essays in honour of George Swarzenski (Chicago 1951) pp 96-102Google Scholar.

^{page no 120 note 4} British Museum Additional MS 15691, fols 1r - 15V.

^{page no 120 note 5} Venice, [Biblioteca Marciana] MS [Lat. C1. 111, 177]. On the contents of this MS see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, pp 173, 343-5, 431-2.

^{page no 120 note 6} On Telesphorus of Cosenza, see ibid, pp 325-8, 343-5, 423-4.

^{page no 121 note 1} Venice MS fol 10V, cf below, p 130, for another example of this picture.

^{page no 121 note 2} Venice MS fol 11r.

^{page no 121 note 3} Ibid, fols 13r - 15r. On fols 13V - 14v there are interesting extensions of the prophecies.

^{page no 121 note 4} Ibid, fol 42V.

^{page no 121 note 5} Martene, E. et Durand, V., Veterum Scriptomm et Monumentorum Historicorum, Dogmaticorum, Moralium.. .Amplissima Collectio, 9 vols (Paris 1724-33) 111, cols 1152-3Google Scholar.

^{page no 122 note 1} Essais (Paris 1598) p 36.

^{page no 122 note 2} Eyn wunderliche Weissagung von dem Babstumb, wie es ihm biz an das endt der welt gehen sol, in figuren oder, gemal begriffen, gefunden zu Nürmberg in Cartheuser Closter, und ist seher alt (Nuremberg 1527), unpaged. In 1528 J. Adrasder published a latin edition linked with Osiander’s, see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, p 454 n 1.

Since writing this paper I have found an English protestant version of the pope prophecies in a pamphlet dedicated to king Edward VI and Edward, duke of Somerset, Lord Proctector, by Gwalter, Lynne: The beginnynge and endynge of all popery, or popische kyngedome (London 1548) unpagedGoogle Scholar. This uses selected pictures from both series of prophecies, without original captions or text, but with an anti-papal commentary which purports to be translated from the German. It is not derived from Osiander’s edition and requires further study. I owe this reference to Mr Bauckmann.

^{page no 122 note 3} This portrait was now number XX in the series. For the comments of Luther and Melanchthon, see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, p 490.

^{page no 122 note 4} Expositio Vera Harum Imaginum olim Nurenbergae repertarum... (Nuremberg с 1530). I have used an edition of 1570 (no place of publ).

^{page no 123 note 1} Number XXVIII (fol 44г).

^{page no 123 note 2} Ibid, fol 46r-v. For further reference to Paracelsus’s interest in prophecy, see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, pp 455-6.

^{page no 123 note 3} Vaticiniorum et imaginum Joachini.. .super statu summorum Pontificum... contra falsam iniquam, vanam, confictam et seditiosam cuiusdam Pseudomagi, quae nuper nomine Theophrasti Paracelsi in lucem prodiit, pseudomagicam expositionem vera, certa, et indubitata explanatio (Cologne 1570).

^{page no 123 note 4} Quoted Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, p 457, n 2.

^{page no 123 note 5} Vaticinia sive Prophetiae Abbatis Joachimi et Anselmi Episcopi Marsicani (Venice 1589) unpaged, in Latin and Italian.

^{page no 123 note 6} Ibid, preface. For Mauroceno, see above, p 120.

^{page no 124 note 1} Ibid. Note to preface where Regiselmo dismisses a theory that the Oracles had been carved on a column in Constantinople. For a medieval reference to this legend see Knös, Les Oracles, p 167, n 2; for a further Renaissance reference see [Oxford, Bodleian Library MS] Barocci 170, fol 2v.

^{page no 124 note 2} Ibid, note to fig. xv.

^{page no 124 note 3} Vatcinium Severi et Leonis Imperatorum in quo videtur Finis Turcarum in praesenti eorum Imperatore... (Brescia 1596).

^{page no 124 note 4} Ibid, pp 79-80, cf Regiselmo, Vaticinia, at the end of both the Latin and Italian sections.

^{page no 125 note 1} Vaticinium Leonis, pp 24-5.

^{page no 125 note 2} Ibid, pp 40-1.

^{page no 125 note 3} Ibid, pp 46-55.

^{page no 125 note 4} Ibid, pp 56-9.

^{page no 125 note 5} Ibid, pp 68-71.

^{page no 125 note 6} Ibid, pp 74-8.

^{page no 125 note 7} MS Barozzi 170.

^{page no 126 note 1} Ibid, fols 7v, 8v, 9v, 11v.

^{page no 126 note 2} Ibid, fols 14V, 15V.

^{page no 126 note 3} Ibid, fol 19V, cf above, p 118.

^{page no 126 note 4} Ibid, fols 27V -8r.

^{page no 126 note 5} Ex his prophetiis et revelationibus intimis oculis perlustratis facile cognosci poterit pontificem maximum vite sanctitate perfulgentem brevi ex religiosissimo Francorum regno futurum, qui.. .pacem inter christicolas omnes componere statusque hominum... diligentissime reformare curabit.. .Super omnes reges et excellentia regna terrena habetur Gallorum rex cum regno omnium religiossimus....

^{page no 126 note 6} Mirabilis Liber, fols XXX V - XXXIII V.

^{page no 127 note 1} Ibid, fol xxxiiiir.

^{page no 127 note 2} Ibid, fols lxvii г- lxviii v.

^{page no 127 note 3} Vaticinia seu Praedictiones Illustrium Virorum Sex Rotis.. .cum dedarationibus et annotationibus Hieronymi Ioannini (Venice 1600).

^{page no 127 note 4} Ibid, fols 4V-5r.

^{page no 127 note 5} Ibid, fols 6v, 7 г.

^{page no 127 note 6} Ibid, fols 8v-10r.

^{page no 128 note 1} Ibid, fols 12r/v.

^{page no 128 note 2} Ibid, fols 25r-6v.

^{page no 128 note 3} Rota Vaticiniorum B. Ioannis Abbatis, ibid, fols 19r-20v.

^{page no 128 note 4} For other editions, see Russo, Bibliografia, pp 46-8.

^{page no 128 note 5} On the prophecies of St Malachy, see Schmidlin, J., ‘Die Papstweissagung des hl. Malachias’, Festgabe... Heinrich Finke (Münster 1904) pp 3-40.Google Scholar

^{page no 128 note 6} Ibid, pp 32-4.

^{page no 128 note 7} Ibid, p 39; ‘Fides intrepida, Pastor angelicus, Pastor et nauta, Flos florum, De medietate lunae, De labore solis De gloria olivae. ‘

^{page no 128 note 8} Oxford, Bodleian Library MS, Ital. с. 73 (olim Phillipps 1726). The enthusiasm for prophecy which produced MS versions in an age of printing is further illustrated by British Museum MS Harley 3483 which is a copy of Regiselmo’s 1589 edition of the Vaticinia, complete with all his annotations.

^{page no 129 note 1} [Oxford, Bodleian Library MS], Laud Misc. 588.

^{page no 129 note 2} Laud Misc. 588, fol 47V.

^{page no 129 note 3} For Amadeus and his prophecies see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, pp 233-4, 440-1, 461-2.

^{page no 130 note 1} Cf above, p 121.

^{page no 130 note 2} Carpentras, Bibliothèque Imguimbertine, MS 340. I am indebted to Mr John Fleming for calling my attention to this manuscript.

^{page no 130 note 3} On ‘Rabanus’ see Grundmann, , AK, XIX (1929) p 107 Google Scholar; HJ, XLIX (1929) P 40.

^{page no 130 note 4} Fols 35r-51r (in my foliation). On G. Barrio, see Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, p 118.

^{page no 131 note 1} Fols 51V-57V.

^{page no 131 note 2} Fols 57V-75 v; the later pictures are not drawn in.

^{page no 131 note 3} Reeves, Influence of Prophecy, pp 468-72, 499-500.

^{page no 131 note 4} See Ehrismann, G., Geschichte der Deutschen Literatur bis zum Ausgang des Mittelalters, 11, 2 (Munich 1927) pp 184-8Google Scholar. I am indebted to Dr R. Harvey for drawing my attention to the parallel between this legend and the Oracles of Leo.

^{page no 134 note 1} See above, p 109, In 5, for the possible relation of this legend to the problem of dating the Oracles.

^{page no 134 note 2} Finke, H., Aus den Tagen Bonifaz VIII (Münster 1902) p 220, n 1 Google Scholar.

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