HISTORIOGRAPHY IN THE MIDDLE AGES - Julian Emperor

LOCAL AND INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY (300‒1000) 97spirit that the lists of Hegesippus or Irénaeus were composed in thesecond century. 17 In the third century, the chronicle of Hippolytus(Liber generationis) was continued until 235 and then from 235 to 254.It probably contained a list and presents entries that prefigure thosein the Liber pontificalis, but these entries were to be discontinued.Earlier in this paper we noted the importance of the episcopal listsfor the Chronicle and the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius of Cesaraeaand their Latin translations. It is from Eusebius that we know thelists of Hegesippus, Irenaeus, and Hippolytus.The catalogue of Pope Liberius (352–66) establishes the first veritablework on the chronology of the popes. It takes up Hippolytus’scatalogue and improves upon it but does not include biographies.This catalogue is placed in a chronological collection with lists ofconsuls and of emperors. 18 It was taken up again by Optatus ofMilevis and Augustine, who used it against the Donatists. It is continuedby Jerome in his Chronicle up to Pope Damasus (378–84), andthen by Jerome’s followers. 19In the sixth century, a series of isolated catalogues appear in themanuscripts—often at the head of canonical collections written orcopied in the two centuries that followed—these catalogues play therole of the helpful document to the user, with lists of provinces andcities that allow us to date and locate the councils and ordainments.Louis Duchesne established a list of canonical manuscripts, at thehead of which is found the catalogue of the popes from the seventhto the ninth centuries (Arras, Corbie, Chieti, Reims, Lyon, Cologne,Albi). Duchesne showed that, with only a few exceptions, the Libricanoni are always preceded by catalogues of the popes.Two additional phenomena in the sixth century reveal the growinginterest placed on the pontifical succession: first, at the basilicaof Saint Paul-outside-the-walls, a series of images of bishops of Romewere painted, with inscriptions that identify them; second, the antipopeLaurence (514–18) had a catalogue created that is considered schismaticbecause it leads to his pontificate.These elements attest to the interest in the pontifical successionin the sixth century. The list is considered a guarantor of the legitimacyof orthodoxy; it can be magnified on the walls of a basilica,17Liber pontificalis, ed. Duchesne and Vogel, Intro., ch. I, I.18In Chronica minora, ed. T. Mommsen, MGH AA 9 (Hanover, 1892); Stern (1953).19Liber pontificalis, ed. Duchesne and Vogel, Intro., ch. I, II.