Giannone/von Lohenschild - Bürgerliche Geschichte des Königreichs Neapel in XL Büchern - 1762-1768

THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES, BETWEEN NORMANS, HENRETS, ANGIOLIANS AND ARAGONS
Two important seven-teenth-century volumes of the monumental civil history of the Kingdom of Naples by Pietro Giannone.
German edition of 1762 and 1768, dedicated to the great dynasties that governed medieval southern Italy. A revolutionary work that denounced the temporal power of the Church and was condemned by ecclesiastical authority. Translation and commentary by Otto Christian von Lohenschiold and Johann Friedrich Le Bret. An fascinating testimony of European Enlightenment and eighteenth-century legal historiography.

ABSTRACT
Pietro Giannone, Bürgerliche Geschichte des Königreichs Neapel in XL Büchern, the second and third volumes of the important German edition published respectively in 1762 and 1768. The work derives from the famous Istoria civile del Regno di Napoli, originally published in Naples in 1723, one of the fundamental texts of Italian Enlightenment and European historiography of the eighteenth century. Giannone reconstructs the political, civil, legal, and ecclesiastical history of southern Italy through the evolution of its institutions and the succession of dominant dynasties. The second volume deals with the Norman and Swabian period, while the third develops the history of the Kingdom under the Anjou and Aragonese. The author pays particular attention to the relations between civil authority and ecclesiastical power, a central theme of a work that provoked a harsh reaction from the Church and was included in the Index of Prohibited Books. The German translation, enriched with notes and commentary, represents a significant testimony to the circulation of Giannone’s ideas in Enlightenment Europe.

WHY TO BUY
A work of notable interest for collectors of Italian history, Enlightenment, law, church-state relations and eighteenth-century political culture. Pietro Giannone is one of the most representative figures of Italian jurisdictional thought, and his Istoria civile constitutes a milestone in the formation of modern institutional historiography. The presence of volumes dedicated to the Norman, Swabian, Angevin, and Aragonese dynasties makes the copy particularly interesting for the study of the origins and evolution of the Kingdom of Naples. The German edition also testifies to the great international diffusion of Giannone’s thought, while Johann Friedrich Le Bret’s contribution increases its significance in the Germanic historical and legal culture. The antique binding with colored inlays and gilded decorations gives the book a pleasant antique presence.

MARKET VALUE
The first Italian edition of 1723 and Giannone’s seventeenth-century translations maintain steady interest among collectors of history, law, and Enlightenment. For the two volumes of 1762 and 1768, an indicative commercial estimate of 500–700 euros seems prudent. The absence of the first and fourth volumes limits the potential market, but the historical importance of the work and the presence of two major chronological sections are favorable.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Old brown leather binding, with raised bands, red inlay bearing the author and title in gilded characters and green inlay indicating the volume. Compartments delimited by gilt fillets and floral decorations now partially faded. The binding shows abrasions, scuffing, edge wear and at the ends of the spine, with small damage to the corners. The pages show natural yellowing, faint insignia and signs of use. The print in German Gothic type appears with orderly layout, running heads and ornamental friezes typical of eighteenth-century book production. In old books, with a multi-century history, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description. This listing contains AI views. Refer to the original photographs to verify the object’s actual condition. These are volumes II and III of four. The images are an integral part of the description. Pp.:
Vol. II: (2); 632; (2).
Vol. III: (2); 702; 2nn; (2).

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Pietro Giannone.
Otto Christian von Lohenschild.
Bürgerliche Geschichte des Königreichs Neapel in XL Büchern.
Ulm/Frankfurt/Leipzig, Auf Kosten der Gaumischen Handlung, 1762. Leipzig, Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, 1768.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The Istoria civile del Regno di Napoli represents one of the most innovative works of European historiography in the early eighteenth century. Unlike traditional dynastic chronicles, Giannone proposes a reconstruction of history based on the evolution of laws, institutions, administration of justice, and the relations between political authority and religious authority. The second German volume analyzes the Norman dominion, the birth of the southern monarchy, and the Swabian era, with particular attention to Frederick II and the construction of state institutions. The third volume instead tackles the Angevin and Aragonese period, two decisive eras for the political and legal configuration of the Mezzogiorno. Giannone’s reflection is part of the jurisprudential tradition, which claimed the autonomy of civil authority from ecclesiastical pretensions. His analysis of immunities, clerical privileges, and disputes between monarchs and the papacy provoked strong religious opposition. The German edition allows us to observe how these themes were received in German-speaking Europe during the Enlightenment, when debates on sovereignty, state reforms, and limitation of ecclesiastical privileges were particularly lively.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Pietro Giannone (1676–1748), born in Ischitella in the Kingdom of Naples, was a jurist, historian and Italian thinker, among the leading figures of eighteenth-century jurisdictionalism. After legal studies he moved to Naples, where he practiced law and developed a deep interest in the history of civil and ecclesiastical institutions. In 1723 he published his major work, Istoria civile del Regno di Napoli, the result of long documentary and legal research. His critical positions toward the temporal power of the Church immediately attracted strong ecclesiastical opposition, forcing him to leave Naples. He later lived in Vienna and Geneva, continuing his research and philosophical and religious reflections. In 1736 he was arrested by the Savoy authorities and remained imprisoned until his death, which occurred in Turin in 1748. His personal history became emblematic of the conflicts between intellectual freedom, political power, and religious authority in early modern Europe. His work deeply influenced later Italian historiography and Enlightenment reformist thought.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
The Istoria civile del Regno di Napoli was first published in Naples in 1723 and rapidly achieved wide European diffusion, despite ecclesiastical condemnations. Reprints, translations and adaptations followed, contributing to the international notoriety of the author. The German edition was published progressively in four volumes between 1758 and 1770, with translation and notes by Otto Christian von Lohenschiold and Johann Friedrich Le Bret. Volume I appeared in 1758, volume II in 1762, volume III in 1768, and volume IV in 1770. The publication spread over twelve years reflects the complexity of the editorial undertaking and the monumental character of the original forty-book work. The German translation represents a significant episode in the reception of Giannone in Enlightenment Europe, where his reflections on the relations between civil law, ecclesiastical institutions, and royal sovereignty fed historical and political debate. The precise print run of the individual volumes is not documented with certainty; therefore, it is not possible to assign them an exact number of copies.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Johann Georg Theodor Graesse, Trésor de livres rares et précieux, vol. III, p. 79, bibliographic index related to Pietro Giannone’s works. Emil Ottokar Weller and German bibliographic compendia of eighteenth-century literature, on the editorial fortune of the German translations. Heinrich Reusch, Der Index der verbotenen Bücher, vol. II, pp. 777–784 and following, for the ecclesiastical condemnation and diffusion of the work. Südwestdeutscher Bibliotheksverbund bibliographic catalog, entries related to volumes II and III of the German edition, with collations and editorial data. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, digitized copies of the volumes of the 1758–1770 German edition, accessible via the Münchener Digitalisierungszentrum. Antiquariat INLIBRIS Gilhofer Nfg., bibliographic entry of the four-volume series, 1758–1770, with references to Graesse, Reusch and Enslin."} }/{