Tra diritto e politica: Andrea da Isernia e la Lectura al Liber Augustalis

Abstract

The essay analyzes and describes the commentary apparatus to the Liber Augustalis and the exegetical activity around the legislative work of Frederick II. Starting from the apparatus vetus, with the glosses of Andrea Bonello and of the mysterious glossator G., up to the ordinary gloss of Marino da Caramanico, the essay focuses mainly on the work of Andrea da Isernia. The Lectura Peregrina, composed at the beginning of the fourteenth century, is examined both in its content and in the various editorial forms in which it was published. Beginning with the editio princeps of 1472, by Sixtus Riessinger, the Lectura Peregrina underwent various editorial transformations until it was standardized as an ordinary commentary on the Liber Augustalis. The Proemio by Andrea da Isernia was placed at the beginning of the editions immediately after that of Marino da Caramanico. The text of the commentary was placed at the bottom of the page of the normative text. From the point of view of content, the mixture of technical and political data seems to be the common thread of the Lectura. When Andrea comments on the Liber Augustalis and the glosses, the political situation has totally changed. The Regnum is now different from the one outlined in Frederick's Constitutions. Andrea's thoughts are clearly expressed in the Proemio and are constantly reiterated in his reading of the Liber Augustalis. The leitmotif is the direct dependence of the sovereign of Sicily on the pontiff. The king, while acting as dominus, is always subiectus to the pope. According to Andrea, the relationship of subjection derives from the fact that the king of Sicily is "created" by the pope. It constitutes, for Andrea, the barrier against arbitrariness and tyranny.