Legal Definitions - Extravagantes

Extravagantes refers to a specific collection of papal decrees and letters issued by Pope John XXII and some of his successors during the medieval period. These documents were termed "extravagant" because they were initially not systematically organized or incorporated into the existing, comprehensive collections of canon law. Instead, they circulated independently, appearing "outside" or "detached" from the main body of Church law. Despite their initial unorganized status, they held significant legal authority within the Roman Catholic Church and were later formally integrated into canon law.

• Imagine a medieval Church court in the 14th century needing to resolve a dispute concerning the property rights of a monastery. While the judges would primarily consult established, compiled books of canon law, they might also need to refer to a recent, standalone decree issued by Pope John XXII that specifically addressed a new aspect of monastic property. This papal decree, though not yet formally added to the main legal compilations, would be considered an Extravagantes, carrying full legal weight and requiring adherence, even in its "detached" form.

• Consider a university professor teaching canon law in the 15th century. When explaining the full scope of papal authority, they would highlight that beyond the great codified works, there were also important pronouncements from certain popes, particularly John XXII, that circulated separately for a time. These separate, authoritative letters and constitutions, which addressed various matters from theological disputes to administrative reforms, were known as Extravagantes. The professor would explain that these documents eventually found their place within the broader body of canon law, but their initial "wandering" status gave them their distinctive name.