Imagining the Sacred Past: Hagiography and Power in Early Normandy (Harvard Historical Studies)

In 911, the French king ceded land along the river Seine to Rollo the Viking, on condition that he convert to Christianity. Over the next century and a half, Rollo and his descendants would become powerful and pious Christian rulers of the mighty European territory, Normandy. In 1066, Rollo's descendant William would conquer England, with papal sanction. Investigating the role of religious tradition in the legitimation of power and the establishment of identity, Samantha Kahn Herrick illuminates the often murky early history of the duchy of Normandy. Central to this religious heritage stood the region's traditional saints, whose deeds, recorded in Latin lives, were celebrated regularly. Herrick focuses on the neglected figures Taurinus of Evreux, Vigor of Bayeux, and Nicasius of Rouen, saints with particular resonance in areas central to the Norman dukes' territorial ambitions. In elaborating a vision of the past that helped explain the present, the saints' stories sanctioned the dukes' rule. Innovative in its historical use of hagiographical literature, this work advances our understanding of early Normandy and the Vikings' transformation from pagan raiders to Christian princes. It also sheds light on the intersection of religious tradition, identity, and power. Investigating The Role Of Religious Traditions In The Legitimate Of Power And The Establishment Of Identity, Samantha Kahn Herrick Illuminates The Often Murky Early History Of The Duchy Of Normandy. Central To This Religious Heritage Stood The Region's Traditional Saints, Whose Deeds, Recorded In Latin Lives, Were Celebrated Regularly. Herrick Focuses On The Neglected Figures Taurinus Of Evreux, Vigor Of Bayeux, And Nicasius Of Rouen, Saints With Particular Resonance In Areas Central To The Norman Dukes' Territorial Ambitions. In Elaborating A Vision Of The Past That Helped Explain The Present, The Saints' Stories Sanctioned The Dukes' Rule. Innovative In Its Historical Use Of Hagiographical Literature, This Work Advances Our Understanding Of Early Normandy And The Vikings' Transformation From Pagan Raiders To Christian Princes. It Also Sheds Light On The Intersection Of Religious Tradition, Identity, And Power.--jacket. Map: Eleventh-century Normandy Xi -- Genealogical Chart: Rulers Of Normandy And Their Connections, 911-1087 Xii -- 1 Placing The Texts In Time 13 -- 2 Individual Appeal: Explaining The Interest In Taurinus, Vigor, And Nicasius 33 -- 3 Imagining The Past Of The Evrecin: The Vita Taurini 51 -- 4 Reshaping History In The Bessin; The Vita Vigoris 74 -- 5 Claiming The Heritage Of The French Vexin: The Passio Nicasii 94 -- 6 Broader Perspective: The Norman Vision Of The Distant Past And Contemporary Hagiography 112 -- Appendix 1 Manuscripts Of The Vita Taurini And Vita Vigoris 139 -- Appendix 2 Transmission Of The Passio Nicasii 145. Samantha Kahn Herrick. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-249) And Index. In 911, the French king granted Viking raiders the territory that would become Normandy, on the condition that they adopt the Christian religion of the land...Only gradually did individual Vikings and the Viking territory alike become Christian and Norman. As converts and their descendants stood among the faithful of their new territory, year after year, they heard recounted the feats of the holy men and women whose lives had graced the land they now ruled. Hagiography concerning figures from the region's sacred past made known to the new Christians their land's religious heritage...From the exploration of these vibrant stories comes a new tale, that of how the vitae of these little-known saints helped the Vikings to take the faith and history of their new territory as their own and refashion themselves as legitimate rulers of a new entity Normandy Innovative in its historical use of hagiographical literature, this work advances our understanding of early Normandy and the Vikings’ transformation from pagan raiders to Christian princes, shedding light on the intersection of religious tradition, identity, and power.