Papal-delegated jurisdiction digitally: Computational analyses on legal language and papal judges in papal documents in the Iberian Peninsula during the 12th century.

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Klaus Herbers; Professor Dr. Malte Rehbein
• Subject Area: Medieval History
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 495959196

The present application is based on previous DFG-project, that had the objective of compiling a comprehensive corpus of digitally accessible papal documents on the Iberian Peninsula. This corpus was to be evaluated using computational Text Mining and methods of network analysis regarding the spreading and distribution of delegated jurisdiction in the Iberian Peninsula until the end of the 12th century. As a precondition, it was necessary to complete the serial edition „Papsturkunden in Spanien“ (Papal Charters in Spain) by making accessible and editing the papal charters issued for the Realm of León and the Spanish Military Orders until 1198 by means of a hybrid edition (i.e. both printed and digital). This new edition is accompanied by a retrodigitisation of the existing editions of papal documents from the Iberian Peninsula. From results hitherto as well as newly formed collaborations with related projects from all over Europe, new perspectives have emerged that reposition the project as an integral part of a European framework. Therefore, the present application aims for (1) a new edition of the remaining 66 out of around 200 charters and their manually operated annotation, as well as (2) a both printed and digital publication of the entire edition. In addition, the project sequel pursues to deliver some necessary addenda which have resulted both from the previous evolution within the project and from international cooperation. That includes (1) an omnibus volume gathering in-depth studies on delegated jurisdiction that is being compiled in cooperation with international researchers, as well as (2) a supplement of the edited texts with the abstracts of further 82 papal charters, and (3) the creation of a special website representing the project’s research data according to contemporary standards of digital editions. All of these research and development activities are equally valuable for the project as a whole and offer an essential surplus benefit for ongoing research.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Spain
• Cooperation Partners: Miguel Calleja Puerta; Dr. Luis Miguel de la Cruz Herranz; Professor Dr. Santiago Domínguez Sánchez; Professor Dr. Fernando López Alsina