'EGO, PRESBITER IOHANNES, DOMINUS SUM DOMINANTIUM': LA TEOLOGIA POLITICA DELLA 'LETTERA DEL PRETE GIANNI' (XII SECOLO)

The thesis deals with the origins of the legend of Prester John, in the 12th century, attempting to to shed a light upon the political implications of its marvellouos contents. After a survey of the different interpretations expressed by scholars in the 19th and 20th century, the thesis analyzes the main aspects of the legend at the very beginning of its development, in the frame of the cultural, theological and political principles and assumptions of the traditions that originated it.