How did Lorenzo Valla use textual criticism to challenge the Donation of Constantine?

In 1440, the Italian humanist Lorenzo Valla utilized the methods of classical philology to demonstrate that the Donation of Constantine—a document long used to justify the papacy's claims to temporal power—was a forgery.12

Valla’s critique focused on a rigorous linguistic analysis of the text. By examining the document's Latin style and diction, he proved that the language used by the anonymous author was characteristic of the 8th century rather than the 4th century, the era of Constantine the Great.13

This application of textual criticism was a hallmark of Renaissance humanism. By treating the document as a historical artifact subject to linguistic scrutiny, Valla exposed the anachronisms that rendered the text fraudulent. His work not only undermined the foundation of papal territorial claims but also established a critical methodology that would later be applied to biblical exegesis and church history, influencing the development of Christian humanism.234