Bobbio in the Early Middle Ages : The Abiding Legacy of Columbanus

Bobbio was the last monastery founded by St Columbanus, who died two years after its inception. It soon became the most important monastery in northern Italy. Several dozen manuscripts, some lavishly illuminated, have survived from the first three centuries of its existence. The largest body of Old Irish glosses passed through Bobbio before ending up in Milan. The evidence for Bobbio in the early Middle Ages is richer than for any Irish monastery in those times, with a substantial amount of source material available on the economic status of the monastery in the late 9th century. This is the first full-scale study of this institution which will celebrate its 1400th anniversary in 2012. "This is the first full-scale study of the early centuries of Bobbio, a monastery which will celebrate its 1400th anniversary in 2012. Founded by St. Columbanus, Bobbio soon became the most important monastic centre in northern Italy." "Several dozen manuscripts, some lavishly illuminated, have survived from the first three centuries of Bobbio's existence. The largest extant body of Old Irish glosses passed through the monastery before ending up in Milan." "Through a thorough examination of all the available source material - a larger corpus than for any contemporary Irish monastery - Michael Richter illuminates the abiding Irish influence on continental monasticism."--Jacket Cover 1 Half-title page 2 Title page 4 Copyright page 5 Contents 6 List of illustrations 8 Preface 10 Abbreviations 12 1. The establishment of the monastery of Bobbio 14 2. Columbanus 25 3. The legacy of Columbanus 50 4. The monastic scriptorium in the seventh century 73 5. A dark century 88 Plates 98 6. The Carolingian century 106 7. The physical appearance of the monastery 124 8. The economy of the monastery 134 9. The monastic library in the ninth century 149 10. Abbot Agilulf (c.882-896) 166 11. Columbanus’s last journey 180 12. Manuscripts with Irish language material 192 13. Epilogue 195 List of manuscripts 198 Bibliography 202 Index 216 The Establishment Of The Monastery Of Bobbio -- Columbanus -- The Legacy Of Columbanus -- The Monastic Scriptorium In The Seventh Century -- A Dark Century -- The Carolingian Century -- The Physical Appearance Of The Monastery -- The Economy Of The Monastery -- The Monastic Library In The Ninth Century -- Abbot Agilulf (c.883- 896) -- Columbanus's Last Journey -- Manuscripts With Irish Language Material. Michael Richter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 193-206) And Index.