The annals of St-Bertin: Ninth-century histories, volume I (Manchester Medieval Sources)

This, the first book in a series which offers annotated translations of medieval texts for the use of history students, is based on a course on ''Charles the Bald and Alfred''. The series offers students access to primary sources and, in some cases, the entire source, of a medieval period. The Annals of St-Bertin, covering the years 830 to 882, are the main narrative source for the Carolingian world in the ninth century. This richly-annotated translation by a leading British specialist makes these Carolingian histories accessible in English for the first time, encouraging readers to reassess and evaluate a crucially formative period of European history. Produced in the 830s in the imperial palace of Louis the Pious, The Annals of St-Bertin were continued away from the Court, first by Bishop Prudentius of Troyes, then by the great scholar-politician Archbishop Hinemar of Rheims. The authors' distinctive voices and interests give the work a personal tone rarely found in medieval annals. They also contain uniquely detailed information on Carolingian politics, especially the reign of the West Frankish king, Charles the Bald (840-877). No other source offers so much evidence on the Continental activities of the Vikings. Janet L. Nelson offers in this volume both an entrance to a crucial Carolingian source and an introduction to the historical setting of teh Annals and possible ways of reading the evidence. The Annals of St-Bertin will be valuable reading for academics, research students and undergraduates in medieval history, archaeology and medieval languages. It will also fascinate any general reader with an interest in the development of European culture and society. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS......Page 2 Genealogy I: The descendants of Charlemagne......Page 4 Genealogy II: The descendants of Louis the Pious......Page 5 Genealogy III: The descendants of Charles the Bald......Page 6 Map I: The Carolingian world......Page 7 Map II: The Kingdom of Charles the Bald......Page 8 1. The importance of the text......Page 9 2. Annals: the conditions of production......Page 10 3. The authors of the AB......Page 14 4. How the AB were written......Page 21 5. The manuscripts......Page 23 6. The AB in print and in translation......Page 25 The text - The Annals of St-Bertin......Page 29 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 235 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 2 Genealogy I: The descendants of Charlemagne 4 Genealogy II: The descendants of Louis the Pious 5 Genealogy III: The descendants of Charles the Bald 6 Map I: The Carolingian world 7 Map II: The Kingdom of Charles the Bald 8 INTRODUCTION 9 1. The importance of the text 9 2. Annals: the conditions of production 10 3. The authors of the AB 14 4. How the AB were written 21 5. The manuscripts 23 6. The AB in print and in translation 25 The text - The Annals of St-Bertin 29 BIBLIOGRAPHY 235 St-Bertin,Annals Mediaval history A richly-annotated translation of the main source for the Carolingian world in the ninth century, covering the years 830 to 882 -- .