Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book expands upon and challenges both explanations of the Decretum's popularity. It provides information about the Decretum. its authorship, its relationship to the contemporary Collectio duodecim partium, the Decretum's dating, its earliest manuscripts and the stages of their textual development, and its use by later compilers and other members of the Church. The book summarizes the research on Burchard's editing in the four Decretum books studied here, and identifies broad patterns in his editorial choices and in his tamperings. It also demonstrates that Burchard edited and altered canons in order to ensure that all canons in the Decretum were consistent with each other. The book examines the broader implications of Burchard's editing in the light of two issues of interest to scholars today.