The Expert’s Eye: Petrarch and Caesar

Textual Criticism and Forgery :a pedagogical workshop

Euroclassica Annual Conference, Vilnius 2012Christine Haller (Switzerland)

Xamax’sGolden Age

Chagaev’s Era

The End

First letter

In response to

USA:09/14/2011

???

Second letter

Emperor Charles IV (1316-1378)

Golden Bull (1356)

Rudolph IV, Duke of Austria (1339-1365)

Privilegium Maius (1360/1358-59)

• Mediaeval style

• Mediaeval style• 1st pers. pl.

• Mediaeval style• 1st pers. pl.• Supremus terre

Imperialis Augustus • Regni nostri

• Mediaeval style• 1st pers. pl.• Supremus terre

Imperialis Augustus • Regni nostri• Avunculo nostro

• Mediaeval style• 1st pers. pl.• Supremus terre

Imperialis Augustus • Regni nostri• Avunculo nostro• In feodotariam

possessionem

• Mediaeval style• 1st pers. pl.• Supremus terre

Imperialis Augustus • Regni nostri• Avunculo nostro• In feodotariam

possessionem• Date

Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374)

Ostarrichi document issued by Emperor Otto III (996)

• Old High German Ostarrîchi (“eastern realm”) probably from a vernacular translation of Marchia orientalis,

(> Österreich).

• Marchia orientalis and Ostarrîchi < Celtic name of Noricum: No(r)- (“east/ern”) + -rig (“realm”)