The Medieval Church · c. 847–852
The False Decretals
Decretales Pseudo-Isidorianae
Pseudo-Isidore
What it is
A vast collection of genuine canons interleaved with forged papal letters of the earliest centuries, designed to protect bishops from metropolitans and lay rulers.
Why it lasted
One of the most successful forgeries in history. It shaped canon law and papal claims for seven hundred years before being exposed in the sixteenth century.
Where to read it
This work is in the public domain and can be read in full, free, at the archives below. The Library catalogues it; it does not host the text.
These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.
Read next