Dudo of Saint-Quentin's Historia Normannorum: Tradition, Innovation and Memory (Writing History in the Middle Ages)

When Dudo of Saint-Quentin's 'Historia Normannorum' first appeared in or around 1015, written for the then Duke of Normandy, Richard II, Dudo created a text without precedent. By committing the lives and deeds of Richard II's ancestors to written memory for the first time since the foundation of Normandy under the Viking Rollo in 911, Dudo provided the Norman court at Rouen with both an official dynastic historiography and a treasured record of their collective past. The 'Historia Normannorum' was conceived, from the outset, as an idiosyncratic text which purported to be both staunchly traditional and remarkably innovative. By means of a pioneering transdisciplinary combination of Historical Studies, Manuscript Studies, Literary Theory and Cultural Memory Studies, this book explores medieval historiography through a unique and highly innovative lens. The analysis showcases the 'Historia Normannorum's' status as one of the most formative historical narratives of the Middle Ages, one which may even provide the earliest surviving example of an illustrated chronicle from the entire Latin West. When Dudo of Saint-Quentin's Historia Normannorum first appeared in or around 1015, written for the then Duke of Normandy, Richard II, Dudo created a text without precedent. By committing the lives and deeds of Richard II'sancestors to written memory for the first time since the foundation of Normandy under the Viking Rollo in 911, Dudo provided the Norman court at Rouen with both an official dynastic historiography and a treasured record of theircollective past. The Historia Normannorum was conceived, from the outset, as an idiosyncratic text which purported to be both staunchly traditional and remarkably innovative. This book's analysis of the Historia uses historical and manuscript evidence, alongside literary theory and approaches from memory studies, to provide fresh insights into the text. It shows the Historia to be one of the most influential and important historical narratives of the Middle Ages, perhaps even the earliest surviving example of an illustrated chronicle from the entire Latin West. BENJAMIN POHL teaches in the Department of History, University of Bristol. Table of Contents Introduction The Manuscripts Tradition Innovation Memory Conclusion Appendices Bibliography When Dudo of St. Quentin's Historia Normannorum first appeared in or around 1015, written for the then Duke of Normandy, Richard II, Dudo created a text without precedent. By committing the lives and deeds of Richard II's ancestors to written memory for the first time since the foundation of Normandy under the Viking Rollo in 911, Dudo provided the Norman court at Rouen with both an official dynastic historiography and a treasured record of their collective past. The Historia Normannorum was conceived, from the outset, as an idiosyncratic text which purported to be both staunchly traditional and remarkably innovative. This book's analysis of the Historia uses historical and manuscript evidence, alongside literary theory and approaches from memory studies, to provide fresh insights into the text. It shows the Historia to be one of the most influential and important historical narratives of the Middle Ages, perhaps even the earliest surviving example of an illustrated chronicle from the entire Latin West. Benjamin Pohl is a DAAD Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge. He is also a Research Associate at Emmanuel College, Cambridge When Dudo of Saint-Quentin's Historia Normannorum first appeared in or around 1015, written for the then Duke of Normandy, Richard II, Dudo created a text without precedent. By committing the lives and deeds of Richard II's ancestors to written memory for the first time since the foundation of Normandy under the Viking Rollo in 911, Dudo provided the Norman court at Rouen with both an official dynastic historiography and a treasured record of their collective past. The Historia Normannorum was conceived, from the outset, as an idiosyncratic text which purported to be both staunchly traditional and remarkably innovative. This book's analysis of the Historia uses historical and manuscript evidence, alongside literary theory and approaches from memory studies, to provide fresh insights into the text. It shows the Historia to be one of the most influential and important historical narratives of the Middle Ages, perhaps even the earliest surviving example of an illustrated chronicle from the entire Latin West. Benjamin Pohl teaches in the Department of History, University of Bristol. List of Illustrations vi Acknowledgements viii List of Abbreviations and Manuscript Sigla x Introduction 1 Appendix: Sigla and General Description of the Manuscripts 18 Chapter 1. The Manuscripts 34 Chapter 2. Tradition 109 Chapter 3. Innovation 156 Chapter 4. Memory 224 Conclusion 252 Appendix 1. Summary Table of Manuscripts in Alphabetical Order 262 Appendix 2. Summary Table of Manuscripts in Chronological Order 263 Appendix 3. Explanatory Rubrics in Manuscripts R, Cc, Lr and A 264 Appendix 4. Poems A–D According to HN, ed. Lair 268 Appendix 5. Synopsis of Poems A–D in Manuscripts R, Cc, Lr, A, Be and Ln 270 Bibliography 273 Index 307 Interdisciplinary study of one of the most important texts of the Anglo-Norman period.