Il cardinale Lamberto e il concordato di Worms (1122)

The contribution examines the role of Cardinal Lamberto of Ostia in the negotiations leading to the Concordat of Worms (1122), within the broader historiographical debate on the Investiture Controversy. Particular attention is paid to issues concerning textual transmission and the nature of the concordat documents, marked by formal anomalies due to the tense political context. Lamberto emerges as a key mediator between papacy and empire, thanks to his diplomatic and legal expertise. The analysis reconstructs the stages of the negotiations and highlights the decisive role of the papal legates. The nature of the concordat—whether preliminary or definitive—is also discussed. The author supports the view that the agreement was effectively concluded at Worms. The concordat is interpreted as a pragmatic compromise, lacking strong ideological formalization. Overall, it appears more as an operational truce than a definitive resolution of the conflict.