This is specifically a listing of freely accessible online resources, so it does not list works available only in print or online resources that are only available behind paywalls. For multi-volume works, I’ve not necessarily been able to find every volume online. My own research focuses on the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, so this is weighted more towards works to do with the High Middle Ages. If there are things you think should be included here, drop a comment below to let me know.
General | Individual Popes | Geographical Area
General
Carafa, Antonio. Epistolae decretales summorum pontificum. 3 vols. Rome, 1591.
Volume 1, Clement I-Pelagius II: [Google Books]
Volume 2, Gregory the Great-Leo IV: [Google Books]
Volume 3, Nicolas I-Gregory VII: [Google Books]
Antonio Carafa died before completing this project, and so it contains documents only from the pontificates of Clement I (90-99) to Gregory VII (1073-1085).
Cherubini, Laerzia et al. Magnum bullarium Romanum, a Beato Leone Magno usque ad S. D. N. Benedictum XIII. 1st ed., 10 vols. Luxembourg, 1727-30; 2nd ed., 19 vols., 1741-43.
First Edition
Volume 1: [Documenta Catholica Omnia]
Volume 2: [Documenta Catholica Omnia]
Volume 3: [Documenta Catholica Omnia]
Volume 4: [Documenta Catholica Omnia]
Volume 5: [Documenta Catholica Omnia]; [Google Books]
Second Edition
Volume 1: [Google Books]
Volume 3: [Google Books]
Volume 4: [Google Books]
Volume 7: [Google Books]
Volumes 15-16: [Google Books]
The first edition covered the pontificates of Leo the Great (440) through to that of Benedict XIII (1724-30). The second edition took the collection up to the early pontificate of Benedict XIV (1740-1758).
Coustant, Pierre. Epistolae romanorum pontificum, et quae ad eos scriptae sunt, a sancto Clemente I usque ad Innocentium III… Paris, 1721.
Only the first volume of this planned multi-volume work appeared, covering the years 67-440.
Gaude, Francisco and Luigi Tomassetti. Bullarum diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum romanorum pontificum taurinensis. 25 vols. Turin, 1857-1872.
Volume 1: [Internet Archive]
Volume 2: [Internet Archive]
Volume 3: [Internet Archive]
Volume 4: [Internet Archive]
Volume 5: [Internet Archive]
Volume 6: [Google Books]; [Internet Archive]
Volume 7: [Internet Archive]
Volume 8: [Internet Archive]
Volume 9: [Internet Archive]
Volume 10: [Internet Archive]
Volume 11: [Internet Archive]
Volume 12: [Internet Archive]
Volume 13: [Internet Archive]
Volume 14: [Internet Archive]
Volume 15: [Internet Archive]
Volume 16: [Internet Archive]
Volume 17: [Internet Archive]
Volume 18: [Internet Archive]
Volume 19: [Internet Archive]
Volume 20: [Internet Archive]
Volume 21: [Internet Archive]
Volume 22: [Internet Archive]
Volume 23: [Google Books]; [Internet Archive]
Volume 24: [Google Books]; [Internet Archive]
Appendix: [Internet Archive]
This collection contains documents from the pontificates of Leo I (440-461) through Clement XII (1730-1740), although most are from the 16th-18th centuries.
Jaffe, Philipp. Regesta pontificum romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum post Christum natum MCXCVIII. 2nd ed. by Samuel Loewenfeld, Ferdinand Kaltenbrunner and Paul Ewald. 2 vols.
Volume 1: [Internet Archive]
Volume 2: [Internet Archive]
Register of papal letters to 1198. Reflecting the editors who contributed to various time periods, the work is conventionally given an abbreviated citation as J-K to the year 590, J-E for 590-882, and J-L for 883-1198.
Loewenfeld, Samuel. Epistolae pontificum Romanorum ineditae. Leipzig, 1854.
Pflugk-Harttung, Julius von. Acta pontificum Romanorum inedita. 3 vols. Tübingen & Stuttgart, 1880-1886.
Volume 1: [Internet Archive]
Volume 2: [Google Books]
Volume 3: [Internet Archive]
Covers acts until the late 12th century.
Potthast, August. Regesta pontificum romanorum inde ab a. post Christum natum MCXCVIII ad a. MCCCIV. 2 vols. Berlin, 1874-75.
Volume 1: [Internet Archive]
Volume 2: [Google Books]
Register of papal letters from 1198 to 1304.
Seeck, Otto. Regesten der Kaiser und Päpste für die Jahre 311 bis 476 n. Chr. Frankfurt am Main, 1919.
[RERO Doc]
Individual Popes
Cornelius (251-253)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 3: [Internet Archive]
Stephen I (254-257)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 3: [Internet Archive]
Innocent I (401-417)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 20: [Internet Archive]
Leo I (440-461)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 54: [Google Books]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 55: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 56: [Internet Archive]
Hilarius (461-468)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 58: [Internet Archive]
Simplicius (468-483)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 58: [Internet Archive]
Felix III (483-492)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 58: [Internet Archive]
Gelasius I (492-496)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 59: [Internet Archive]
Hormisdas (514-523)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 63: [Internet Archive]
Felix IV (526-530)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 64: [Internet Archive]
Boniface II (530-532)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 64: [Internet Archive]
John II (533-535)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 72: [Internet Archive]
Benedict I (575-579)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 72: [Internet Archive]
Pelagius II (579-590)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 72: [Internet Archive]
Gregory I the Great (590-604)
Ewald, Paul & Ludwig Hartmann, ed. Registrum epistularum. 2 vols. Berlin, 1887-1899.
Volume 1: [Google Books]
Volume 2: [Google Books]
Patrologia Latina
Patrologia Latina, vol. 75: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 76: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 77: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 78: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 79: [Internet Archive]
Leo II (682-683)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 96: [Internet Archive]
Sergius I (687-701)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 89: [Internet Archive]
John VI (701-705)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 89: [Internet Archive]
Gregory IV (827-844)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 106: [Internet Archive]
Sergius II (844-847)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 106: [Internet Archive]
Leo IV (847-855)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 115: [Internet Archive]
Benedict III (855-858)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 115: [Internet Archive]
Nicolas I (858-867)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 119: [Internet Archive]
John VIII (872-882)
Caspar, Erich, ed. Registrum Johannis VIII papae. Berlin, 1928.
[Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Digitale Bibliothek]
Stephen V (885-891)
Caspar, Erich, ed. Fragmenta registri Stephani V papae. Berlin, 1928.
[Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Digitale Bibliothek]
John XIII (965-972)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 135: [Internet Archive]
Sylvester II (999-1003)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 139: [Internet Archive]
John XIX (1024-1032)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 141: [Internet Archive]
Leo IX (1049-1054)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 143: [Internet Archive]
Gregory VII (1073-1085)
Caspar, Erich, ed. Das Register Gregors VII. 2 vols. Berlin, 1920-1923.
Volume 2: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina
Patrologia Latina, vol. 148: [Internet Archive]
Victor III (1086-1087)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 149: [Internet Archive]
Urban II (1088-1099)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 151: [Google Books]
Paschal II (1099-1118)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 163: [Internet Archive]
Gelasius II (1118-1119)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 163: [Internet Archive]
Callixtus II (1119-1124)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 163: [Internet Archive]
Robert, Ulysse. Bullaire du Pape Calixte II, 1119-1124: essai de restitution. 2 vols. Paris, 1891.
Both volumes are linked to from the same catalogue record on HathiTrust.
Honorius II (1124-1130)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 166: [Internet Archive]
Anacletus II (Antipope, 1130-1138)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 179: [Internet Archive]
Eugenius III (1145-1153)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 180: [Internet Archive]
Anastasius IV (1153-1154)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 188: [Internet Archive]
Adrian IV (1154-1159)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 188: [Internet Archive]
Alexander III (1159-1181)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 200: [Internet Archive]
Urban III (1185-1187)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 202: [Internet Archive]
Gregory VIII (1187)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 202: [Internet Archive]
Clement III (1187-1191)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 204: [Internet Archive]
Celestine III (1191-1198)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 206: [Internet Archive]
Innocent III (1198-1216)
Patrologia Latina, vol. 214: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 215: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 216: [Internet Archive]
Patrologia Latina, vol. 217: [Internet Archive]
Gregory IX (1227-1241)
Auvray, Lucien d’. Les registres de Grégoire IX. Paris, 1896.
Volume 1: [Columbia University]; [Internet Archive]
Volume 2: [Columbia University]; [Internet Archive]
Volume 3: [Internet Archive]
Volume 4: [Internet Archive]
Levi, Guido. Registri dei cardinali Ugolino d’Ostia e Ottaviano degli Ubaldini. Rome, 1890.
Ugolino di Conti was Cardinal of Ostia before he became Pope Gregory IX.
Innocent IV (1243-1254)
Berger, Élie. Les registres d’Innocent IV publiés ou analysés d’après les manuscrits originaux du Vatican et de la Bibliothèque nationale. 4 vols. Paris, 1884-1920.
All four volumes are linked to from the same catalogue record on HathiTrust.
Alexander IV (1254-1261)
C. Bourel de la Roncière, J. de Loye, P. de Cenival and A. Coulon, Les registres d’Alexandre IV; recueil des bulles de ce pape publiées ou analysées d’après les manuscrits originaux des archives du Vatican.
Volumes 1-3: [HathiTrust]
Tables: [Internet Archive]
Nicholas III (1277-1280)
Gay, Jules. Les registres de Nicolas III (1277-1280); recueil des bulles de ce pape, publiées ou analysées d’après les manuscrits originaux des archives du Vatican. 5 vols. Paris, 1898-1938.
All five volumes are linked to from the same catalogue record on HathiTrust.
Honorius IV (1285-1287)
Prou, Maurice. Les registres d’Honorius IV. Paris, 1886-88.
Nicholas IV (1288-1292)
Langlois, Ernest. Les registres de Nicolas IV; Recueil des bulles de ce pape, publiées ou analysées d’après les manuscrits originaux des archives du Vatican. 2 vols. Paris, 1905.
Volume 1: [HathiTrust]
Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
Digard, Georges et al. Les registres de Boniface VIII; recueil des bulles de ce pape publiées ou analysées d’après les manuscrits originaux des archives du Vatican. 4 vols. Paris, 1884-1939.
All four volumes are linked to from the same catalogue record on HathiTrust.
Benedict XI (1303-1304)
Grandjean, Charles. Les registres de Benoît XI : recueil des bulles de ce pape. 3 vols. Paris, 1883-1905.
Volume 1: [Gallica]
Volume 2: [Gallica]
Volume 3: [Gallica]
Jean XXII (1316-1334)
Fayen, Arnold. Lettres de Jean XXII (1316-1334). Textes et analyses. Rome, 1908-1912.
[Gallica]
Benedict XII (1334-1342)
Vidal, Jean-Marie. Benoît XII, 1334-1342 : lettres closes et patentes intéressant les pays autres que la France, publiées ou analysées d’après les registres du Vatican. Paris, 1913-1950.
Volume 1: [Gallica]
Volume 4: [Gallica]
Volume 5: [Gallica]
Vidal, Jean-Marie. Benoît XII, 1334-1342. Lettres communes analysées d’après les registres dits d’Avignon et du Vatican. 3 vols. Paris, 1902-1911.
Volume 1: [Gallica]
Volume 2: [Gallica]
Volume 3: [Gallica]
Geographical Area
Britain and Ireland | France | Germany | Italy | Switzerland
Britain and Ireland
Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland
Not all volumes are available online.
Volumes 1-14: [British History Online]
France
Chaix, Louis-Antoine. Monumenta pontificia Arverniae, decurrentibus IX°, X°, XI°, XII°saeculis. Correspondance diplomatique des papes concernant l’Auvergne depuis le pontificat de Nicolas Ier jusqu’à celui d’Innocent III (IXe, Xe, XIe, XIIe siècles). Clermont-Ferrand, 1886.
[Gallica]
Daumet, Georges. Lettres closes, patentes et curiales se rapportant à la France / Benoît XII, 1334-1342 ; publiées ou analysées d’après les registres du Vatican. Paris, 1899.
[Gallica]
Tardif, Adolphe. Priviléges accordés a la couronne de France par le Saint-siége, pub. d’après les originaux conservés aux archives de l’empire et a la Bibliothèque impériale, Paris, 1855.
Covers the 13th-17th centuries.
Wiederhold, Wilhem. “Papsturkunden in Frankreich,” in Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Phil.-hist. Kl., 1906-1913.
1906: [Internet Archive]
1907: [Internet Archive]
1910: [Internet Archive]
1911: [Internet Archive]
1913: [Internet Archive]
Wiederhold’s work was split across several issues of this journal.
Germany
Böhmer, Johann Friedrich. Die Regesten des Kaiserreichs: sächsisches Haus, 919-1024. Innsbruck, 1901; rp. Graz, 1971.
The fifth volume contains calendars for popes and their legates to Germany in the period 919-1024.
Brackmann, Albert. “Papsturkunden des östlichen Deutschlands (Berlin, Stettin, Magdeburg, Zerbst, Dresden, Meissen, Leipzig, Zeitz),” in Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Phil.-hist. Kl. (1902).
Brackmann, Albert. “Papsturkunden des Nordens, Nord- und Mittel-Deutschlands (Stockholm, Upsala, Kopenhagen, Hannover, Hildesheim, Wolfenbüttel, Goslar, Wernigerode, Cassel, Marburg, Gotha, Erfurt, Pforta, Jena, Rudolstadt, Meiningen),” in Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Phil.-hist. Kl. (1904).
Brackmann, Albert, et al. Germania pontificia; sive, Repertorium privilegiorum et litterarum a romanis pontificibus ante annum MCLXXXXVIII Germaniae ecclesiis monasteriis civitatibus singulisque personis concessorum. Berlin, 1911-.
Volume 1: [Internet Archive]
Volume 2: [Internet Archive]
Volume 3: [Internet Archive]
Not all volumes are available online.
Deutsches Historisches Institut in Rom. Repertorium Germanicum. Berlin, 1916-.
[Repertorium Germanicum Online]
An index of entries in the papal registers concerning the German Empire. Individuals and institutions are listed in alphabetical order, with concise summaries of all entries pertaining to them.
Rieder, Karl. Römische quellen zur Konstanzer Bistumsgeschichte zur Zeit der Päpste in Avignon, 1305-1378. Innsburck, 1908.
Italy
Kehr, Paul. “Papsturkunden in Ligurien”, “Papsturkunden im Mailand”, “Papsturkunden in der Lombardei” in Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Phil.-hist. Kl. (1902).
Kehr, Paul. “Papsturkunden in Rom”, “Papsturkunden im westlichen Toscana” in Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Phil.-hist. Kl. (1903).
Löwenfeld, S. Papsturkunden in Italien. Ein Nachtrag. Vienna, 1880.
Switzerland
Brackmann, Albert “Papsturkunden der Schweiz,” in Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch-Historische Klasse (1904).
A listing of papal documents held in Swiss archives, cross-referenced with J-L.
Dear Yvonne
Many thanks for this list: it is very useful.
There are also digitised versions of some of the registers of the fourteenth-century popes on Gallica (gallica.bnf.fr), for example the Lettres Communes and Lettres Closes, Patentes et Curiales of Benedict XII, and Arnold Fayen’s edition of the letters of John XXII relevant to Belgium.
Best wishes
Peter McDonald
Marvellous, thank you! I have added them to the list.
The Hathi Trust also has John XXII’s Lettres Communes
Such a helplful work!
Thank you so much!