The Codicology, the Palaeography, and the Glossing of Sankt Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, 673 (Sg)

Abstract

This paper provides a detailed codicological and palaeographical description of Sankt Gallen, Stiftsbibliothek, 673 (Sg), which contains an early version of the Decretum Gratiani (pp. 3a–203a) and a collection of excerpts (pp. 203a–246b). Based on this investigation of material features, an attempt is made to trace the origin and provenance of the manuscript and to assess its contribution to the emerging scholastic teaching of canon law in the twelfth century. The study demonstrates that the manuscript was written and decorated in northern or central Italy, maybe in Modena, between 1146 and c.1160 or 1165 at the latest. Essentially four text hands and seven annotation hands, including the first two text hands, participated in copying the manuscript and commenting on the Decretum Gratiani and the following excerpts. The small, oblong format, the layout with colored initials, a clear text hierarchy and inscriptiones in red ink, the unique text of the Decretum Gratiani and its original division into 33 causae, the gradual transition from the Decretum Gratiani to the collection of excerpts without a clear end, as well as the annotations, all shape the distinctive profile of the manuscript. The palaeographical and functional analysis of the annotations has revealed that Sg contains the richest layers of notabilia, discursive glosses and allegations that emerged before, or at least independent from, the second recension of the Decretum Gratiani.