„Donatio Constantini” message in the French universal chronicle from the 14th century

Abstract

The article concerns the famous counterfeit traditionally called Donatio Constantini, offering expanded selected plots from the legend of Saint Sylvester, which was developed at the end of the 5^th century. This text – written down between the mid-8^th and mid-9^th century in the form of a ceremonial imperial document – has been perceived as an authentic one for centuries. The author analyses the Donatio Constantini version included in the remake of the Martin’s of Poland Chronicle, developed in the second and third decade of the 14^th century in France, which had been functioning in numerous copies in Poland in the 15^th century.