Notitia Dignitatum

The famous ledger for the management of the Roman Empire from late-antiquity in a 15th century manuscript! The manuscript with the title Descripto orbis terrarium of the Spanish National Library’s manuscript collection contains the famous Notitia Dignitatum as well as eleven additional treatises on thematic areas that are administratively, politically, geographically, topographically, and historically interesting. In this way, the compendium, which has been known in this form since the 9th century, presents an exciting mix of texts from various epochs, authors, and themes. As a special feature, a few of the texts are illustrated with gorgeous miniatures that are always typical for the respective period. A unique, comprehensive glimpse into history!

Exciting Historical Treatises

The manuscript with the signature Ms. Reserva 36 of the Biblioteca Nacional de España in Madrid bears the title Descripto orbis terrarium. The manuscript collects texts about geography, topography, politics, and other themes on 336 pages. This historically significant compendium was already compiled in this form in the 9th century. In the 15th century, this was reproduced in the finest detail for the Madrid codex. 12 treatises altogether – among them the Cosmography of Pseudo-Aethicus, texts about the cities of Rome and Constantinople, and a dispute between Hadrian and Epictetus - give wonderful insight into various historically interesting thematic areas.

The Administration of the Roman Empire

The most famous of the twelve treatises in the manuscript is undoubtedly the so-called Notitia Dignitatum (Notitia dignitatum tam civilium quam militarium): a Roman state ledger, originating from the beginning of the 5th century. It contains a description of the administrative structure of the Roman Empire along with a depiction of the personalities and office holders who were responsible for managing Roman sovereignty. This valuable information about the management structure of the Roman Empire, about the military and political mastery of such a large area, was continuously referred to over the centuries. Thus, Charlemagne himself relied upon the Notitia Dignitatum and formed the organization of his empire according to its rules.

Miniatures in the Flux of the Ages

The Madrid manuscript originated in Italy. The Italian humanists of the 15th century concerned themselves extensively with political and cosmological treatises. The texts in this manuscript are true to the originals and are gorgeously illustrated with over 100 miniatures. These are obliged by the respective taste and style of the text’s period of origin. Therefore, one finds elegant Gothic miniatures and lavish Renaissance adornment, but also schematic charts in the tradition of the Early Middle Ages, or well-arranged tables. Ancient personalities on coins, personifications and symbolic depictions of cities and regions, as well as other depictions illustrate the historically significant text of this manuscript!