The Republic of St. Peter: The Birth of the Papal State, 68-825

by Thomas F.X. Noble

The Republic of St. Peter seeks to reclaim for central Italy an important part of its own history. Noble's thesis is at once original and that the Republic, an independent political entity, was in existence by the 730s and was not a creation of the Franks in the 750s.

Noble examines the political, economic, and religious problems that impelled the central Italians—and a succession of resolute popes—to seek emancipation from the Byzantine Empire. He delineates the social structures and historical traditions that produced a distinctive political society, describes the complete governmental apparatus of the Republic, and provides a comprehensive assessment of the Franco-papal alliance.

Genres: History, Italy, Nonfiction

412 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 1984

About the author

Professor, Department of History, University of Notre Dame.

Medieval, Mediterranean, religious; the city of Rome, the papacy, late antiquity, the Carolingians, the West and Byzantium.

Reviews

[Kristian Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid, does away with a lot of older scholarship pertaining to the foundation of the Papal States, Noble makes his case using very convincing evidence.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas F. X. Noble in this book examines the origins and nature of papal lands in Italy. In the course of his discussion he untangles a thorny array of papal, Byzantine, and other sources, most of which use difficult terminology (vocabulary which may or may not have a very different legal meaning that previous or subsequent meanings, for example, or which may mean very different things in different contexts even within the period in question). His study perforce touches on the legal, social, and economic aspects of land-holding, political and military developments, and changes in papal governance (including the administrative styles and agendas of key popes). This work is an important prerequisite to study of subsequent papal developments.