La diffusion des manuscrits latins de l’Évangile de Nicodème en Europe (VIIIe – XVe siècles)

Details

Supervisors

Bertrand, Paul ; Gounelle Rémi

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en histoire, à finalité approfondie

Abstract

enThis thesis examines how the Gospel of Nicodemus spread across medieval Europe from the 8th to the 15th century and explores its overall influence. It aims to understand why this apocryphal text transitioned from limited circulation to widespread popularity, and why its diffusion varied by region and time period. The research is based on a novel inventory of 157 known Latin recension manuscripts, alongside text editions by Rémi Gounelle and Zbigniew Izydorczyk. Organized by geographical area and historical period, the analysis shows that four types of factors explain this success: the role of religious and political networks (Carolingian monasteries, royal efforts to Christianize), theological needs (countering certain heresies, addressing anxieties around salvation), cultural and linguistic adaptations (translations into vernacular languages, warrior-oriented rewritings), and material advancements (Caroline minuscule, copying workshops, the printing press). These factors combined differently depending on the region, accounting for the text's gradual spread across Europe.