Analysis Of Pope Stephen II 'The Donation Of Constantine'

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The Donation of Constantine is a forged document written by Pope Stephen II. It was created during a time in which the papacy was recognizing the growing power of Pepin, King of the Franks, and realizing the ever growing reduction in influence the papacy had beyond the church. It is important to note that Pepin was father to the later King Charlemagne who exemplifies greatly the type of brutality their lineage ruled with. The papacy, more importantly Pope Stephen II, recognized King Pepin was a powerful force, and one that would be crucial to have in close partnership in order to accomplish what he hoped and desired whether it be land ownership, wealth, or influence that could persuade the king to rule in a way he desired. The document, on
In the story Constantine is stricken with leprosy, a disease that would often kill. It is through his conversion to Christianity, in which the pope directs him in the process of, that Constantine is cured of his illness. The story was a strategic decision on Pope Stephen II’s part that made Roman Catholicism appealing. Religion became something that could rescue him from illnesses both metaphorically and literally. The outcome of this section could benefit the pope in two ways: the pope is seen as very important to the empire for salvation, and Christianity is spread when the king adopts
In the later Donation of Pepin one can see this play out as such. For one Pepin is referred to as, “most Christian King of the Franks” . His name is proven worthy when it is said that he refused to give up his lands because they belonged to the church (pope). He also affirmed his choices of seeking lands with war in that it was for the church and forgiveness of sins. It is hard to amount Pepin’s direct example of how Pope Stephen II outlined the way in which he should rule to anything else because it aligns so exactly. Pope Stephen II achieved his purpose in writing the Donation of Constantine by keeping the Pope as a key influential factor in the

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