Prosa rítmica y manipulación documental: algunos ejemplos medievales

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the use of a stylistic device, specifically the cursus or rhythmic prose, in manipulating and forging medieval charters. First of all, we describe the stylistic tendencies followed by some of the main Latin authors of the tenth-twelfth centuries in relation to the use of rhythmic cadences. Next, we present and comment the charters, namely papal documents preserved in Pamplona Cathedral in the period between the end of the eleventh century and the middle of the twelfth century. With the exception of some originals, these are interpolated or forged documents. The method used to analyze the rhythmic cadences is the so-called “internal comparison” method, developed by T. Janson in his study of medieval Latin rhythmic prose. After the particular analysis of the documents, we draw the conclusions.