The Investiture Controversy was settled in her castle: the life of Mathilda of Canossa in illuminating miniatures
Vita Mathildis
Monastery of Saint Apollonius in Canossa (Italy) — 1115

Vita Mathildis
Monastery of Saint Apollonius in Canossa (Italy) — 1115
The Margraves of Tuscia rose to become on of the most powerful families of 11th century Italy
This family history is centered on Mathilda of Canossa (1046–1115), the dynasty's last Marchioness
The story of this deeply pious woman's life is recorded in luminous colors and 23 karat gold

Vita Mathildis
Boniface III, Margrave of Tuscany
The most powerful prince in northern Italy during the early-10th century is literally covered with gold leaf from head to toe in this splendid early Romanesque miniature. Boniface III was a major player in imperial politics and an important ally of the Holy Roman Emperors during this period and his intrigues resulted in his assassination 1052. The script down the side reads: Te redimat Sothér Bonifaci marchio duxque – “May the Savior redeem you Boniface, duke and margrave”.
Vita Mathildis
- Life of Matilda of Tuscany
- Acta Comitissae Mathildis
- Life of Mathilda of Canossa
- Vita der Mathilde von Canossa
Short Description
The Vita Mathildis was produced between 1111 and 1115 by the Benedictine monk Donzio. The work is concerned with the powerful Italian princely family of Canossa and in doing so places Marchioness Mathilda of Canossa at the center. It is decorated with eight splendid, gold-adorned miniatures and numerous embellished initials.
Vita Mathildis
Mathilde of Canossa (1046–1115) was the last representative of the great dynasty of the Margraves of Tuscia. They built up a domain in Italy in less than one hundred years. Her life was under the spell of great politics, which were defined by the power struggle between the papacy and the empire. Through her support of the papacy, which culminated in the transfer of her entire domain to the Papal States, she sacrificed her house’s claim to power. The Vita Mathildis not only brings this illustrious personality to life, but also transmits approaches for the evaluation of historical events and figure which are disputed today.
Partition in Two Parts
The Vita Mathildis was produced between 1111 and 1115 by the Benedictine monk Donzio, who the marchioness knew personally and esteemed. His work is separated into two books. The first book extols the rise of the House of Canossa to one of the most powerful princely families of 11th century Italy. The second book is dedicated entirely on Marchioness Mathilda. Standing in the foreground is her deep piety, her loyalty to the papacy, and her endeavors to mediate between Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. The work was first completed after Mathilda’s death, Donzio added a lament as a result.
Romanesque Book Art
The work contains 8 magnificent miniatures in the Romanesque Style. The illustrations impress through luminous colors and lavish application of gold. The master utilized 23 karat gold here. Along with the charming miniatures, the text of the codex is adorned with many embellished initials. With its high-quality illustrations, the Vita Mathildis is an impressive testimony to the development of a dynasty between the poles of contemporary events.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Life of Matilda of Tuscany
Acta Comitissae Mathildis
Life of Mathilda of Canossa
Vita der Mathilde von Canossa - Size / Format
- 180 pages / 21.0 × 16.0 cm
- Date
- 1115
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 8 miniatures and many initials
- Artist / School
- Author: Donzio

Vita Mathildis
Presentation Miniature
This miniature depicts Marchioness Matilda of Tuscany enthroned and wearing lavish robes trimmed with ermine, which is depicted with gold leaf, as are her shoes. She looks straight at the beholder with a cool, imperious expression one might expect from a powerful, independent noblewoman. The inscription reads: Mathildis lucens, precor hoc cape cara volume or “Resplendent Matilda, please accept this book, oh you dear one”.
Framed by royal purple, Matilda is flanked by a tonsured cleric and a man-at-arms wearing gold chain mail. The cleric to her left is Donzio, who created the manuscript, which he is presenting to Matilda. On the right, sword in hand, stands her man-at-arms, dressed in a red tunic, blue cloak, and knee-high leather boots.
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Vita Mathildis“
Vita der Mathilde von Canossa
- Publisher
- Belser Verlag – Zurich, 1984
- Limited Edition
- 2000 copies
- Binding
- Red leather
- Commentary
-
1 volume (221 pages) by Carlo Golinelli and Axel Janeck
Language: German - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Matching Works
Lorsch Rotulus
The pride of the city of Frankfurt today : the only surviving scroll from the Carolingian era
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Saints' Lives
How does one become a saint? Find out by reading about the lives of the saints and the example they set through their...Experience moreRomanesque
The first international European artistic movement was vigorous, innovative, and yet coherent, seamlessly blending...Experience more12th Century
Are you ready for an age of epic events and flourishing art? The Crusades and Reconquista rage at either end of the...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Johnson Reprint Corporation
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo