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Three Medieval Chroniclers: Monastic Historiography and Biblical Eschatology in Hugh of St. Victor, Otto of Freising, and Ordericus Vitalis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Ray C. Petry
Ray C. Petry
Affiliation:
Professor of Church History, Duke University Divinity School
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Extract

The middle of the twelfth century marked an upsurge in historical awareness and a revitalization of the practice of historiography.1 Exemplifying this trend were three men who flourished and died within twenty years of each other. Hugh of St. Victor projected a manysided view of history. Otto of Freising and Ordericus Vitalis were universalizing historians.2 None was an academic professional after the fashion of our modern guild. Each followed a monastic vocation. All protested any evisceration of time and history, every attempt to evacuate humanity therefrom. They extended the Augustinian emphasis on the key role of the Divine in the Hebrew-Christian tradition.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , September 1965 , pp. 282 - 293
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1965

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References

1. Funndamental studies with good primary and source literature are found in Chenu, M. D., Théologie au dousième siècle (Paris, 1957), pp. 62–89,Google Scholar and in Lubac, H. de, Exégèse Médiévale (Paris, 1961), III, ii, 1, 262–434.Google Scholar

2. See the proper introductions and critical evaluations of texts and literature in such works as Molinier, A., Les sources de l'histoire de France (Paris, 1901–1906),Google Scholar II, no. 1973; cf. V, ito. 146, p. ci; Thompson, J. W., A History of Historical Writing (New York, 1942), I, 195–98, 235–38Google Scholar; Mierow, C. C., tr., The Two Cities: A Chronicle of Universal History to the Year 1146 AD, by Otto Bishop of Freising (New York, 1928), pp. 1–84Google Scholar, and Mierow, , tr., The Deeds of Frederick Barbarossa, by Otto of Freising … (New York, 1953), pp. 3–14Google Scholar; Buttimer, C. H., Hugonis de Sancto Victore Didascalicon: De Studio Legendi: A Critical Text. Catholic University of America Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Latin, X (Washington, D. C., 1938)Google Scholar; Taylor, J., tr., The Didascalicon of Hugh of St. Victor (New York, 1961), pp. 3–39, 158–236Google Scholar; Ghellinck, J. De, L'essor de La littérature Latine au XIIe siècle (Paris, 1946), I, 50ff.Google Scholar, and II, 93–114; also Le mouvernent théologique du XIIe siècle (Paris, 1948), pp. 185–202Google Scholar; Baron, R., Science et sagesse ches Hugues de Saint-Victor (Paris, 1957), pp. vii and 231–63,Google Scholar also Baron, , “Hugues de Saint-Victor: contribution a un mouvel examen de son oeuvre,” Traditio, XV (New York, 1959), 223–97Google Scholar; and, definitive in character, Baron, R., Etudes sur Hugues de Saint-Victor (Paris 1963)Google Scholar; Wolter, H., Ordericus Vitalis: ein Beitrag zur kluniazensischen ‥ Geschichtsschreibung (Wiesbaden, 1955), pp. 155–244.Google Scholar

3. “Hujus religionis sectandae caput est historia et prophetia dispensationis temporalis divinae providentiae, pro salute generis humani in aeternam vitam reformandi atque reparandi,” Aug., De vera religione, 7:13Google Scholar (Text and tr. of Pegon, J., Oeuvres de Saint Augustin, VIII (Paris, 1951), 42–43, 483–86)Google Scholar.

4. See the literature in note 2, above.

5. HE, I, Prol., Forester, I, 1–4; Le Prevost, I, 1–4. References are by book and chapter to the Historia Ecclesiasfica. Where necessary, volumes and pages are also cited according to the critical edition of August Prevost, La, Historia Ecclesiastica (Paris, 1838–1855), 5 vols.Google Scholar, and the translation of Forester, T., The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy by Ordericus Vitalis (London, 1853–1856), 4 vols.Google Scholar

6. See note 2, above. Wolter lists MSS by centuries and research down to the present day, pp. 7–16, 236–37, 238–44. His copious notes, pp. 55–233 are invaluable.

7. L'amour des lettres et les désir de Dieu (Paris, 1957). Note, particularly, pp. 9–14, 145–78.Google Scholar

8. De miraculis, Prol., PL 189: 907–09Google Scholar via Leelercq, op. cit., pp. 149–50.

9. Ibid., especially, pp. 148–60.

10. Baron, Science et sagesse, gives a magnificent summation with the most pertinent texts and literature, notably, pp. 74–75, 111–17, 125–33, 138–45. His Études includes definitive critique, dating and indexing of all Hugh's works, especially, pp. 70ff. and 261ff. See the brief excellent section in Smalley, B., The Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages (New York, 1952), pp. 83–106,Google Scholar and the provocative studies in Chenu and de Lubac cited above in note 2. See, also Pare, G. et al. , La renaissance du XIIe siècle: les écoles et l'enseignement (Paris, 1933), pp. 218–28, 258–64.Google Scholar Key texts include De scripturis et scriptoribus sacris, caps. 5, 17, 18 (PL 175: 13, 24–25)Google Scholar; De sacramentis, Prol., 1–6; I, i, 29; I, viii, 11–12; I, x, 6; I, xi, 1; I, xii, 9 (PL 176: 183- 85, 204, 312–14, 336, 339, 360–62. (For a translation consult Deferrari, R. J., Hugh of St. Victor on the Sacraments of the Christian Faith, Mediaeval Academy of America, 58, (Cambridge, Mass., 1951)Google Scholar; De arca noe morali, I, 2, 4, IV, 9 (PL 176: 624–26, 629–34, 677–80; De arca floe mystica. III-V (PL 176: 685–91)Google Scholar; De vanitate mundi, II, IV (PL 176: 720, 732–34)Google Scholar; De sacramentis legis naturalis et scriptae (PL 176: 32)Google Scholar; Didasealicon, VI, 1–4Google Scholar (Buttimer, 113–22; PL 176: 799–805; Taylor, 3–39, 135–44 and notes); also Hugh's Chronicon, partially ed. by Green, W. M., “Hugo of St. Victor: De tribus maximis circumstantiis gestorum,” Speculum, XVIII, 4 (10, 1943), 484–93,CrossRefGoogle Scholar and a portion (papas et imperatores) by Waitz, G., “Chronica quaedicitur Hugonis de sancto Victore,” in Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, XXIV (Hanover, 1879), 88–97.Google Scholar A very useful translation, with introduction by Squire, A., for large sections of De arca noe morali and De vanitate mundi is Hugh of St. Victor: Selected Spiritual Writings by a Religious of C. S. M. V. (New York, 1962).Google Scholar

11. See text and sources in Chenu, op. cit., pp. 62–79.

12. Mierow, in the introductions of his two works, recapitulates the gist though not the details of Augustiniain influences analyzed by Hofmeister et at. The bent of Otto's thought may be readily discerned in his prologues for the Chronicon, especially, I, II, VI, and VII.

13. Chron., I (Mierow, 96)Google Scholar; Ottonis episcopi Frisingensis chronicon, ed. Wilmans, Q., in Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptores, XX (Hanover, 1868), 119Google Scholar: “ut tenorem historiae non omittamus.”

14. Chron., Prol., VI (Wilmans, 229)Google Scholar: “Cives ergo Christi non more reptilium salo mergi vel infidis eius procellis improvide se credere, sed navi, id est ilgno crucis, fide navigare, manusque per dilectionem operando exercere in praesenti oportet, ut per huius vitae viam ad portam patriae securi valeant pervenire.”

15. Chron., Prol., VII.

16. HE I, 1 (P. I, 5; F. I, 5).

17. HE I, 1–2, 22. Following Bede's Chronicon sive de sex hujus saeculi aetatibus, sexta aetas, PL 90: 520, 545Google Scholar:… “Jesus Christus Films Dei sextam mundi aetatem suo consecrant adventu.” Cf. Aug., De Civ. Dei, XXII, 30.Google Scholar Also P. I, 6 n.3, 153 n.1; F. I, 5–9, 83–4.

18. HE V, 1 (P. II, 302; F. II, 114): “Antichristi tempus appropinquat.”

19. HE I, Prol., (P. I, 1–4): “De rebus eeclesiasticis, ut simplex ecclesiae filius, sincere fari dispono; et priscos patres Pro posse moduloque meo nisu sequens sedulo, modernos Christianorum eventus rimari et propalare satago: unde praesens opuseulum Ecclesiasticam Historiam appellari affecto.” See the passage further for larger context.

20. HE I, I (P. I, 5; F. I, 5).

21. HE I, 4 (P. I, 13) “Haec de temperum serie studioso lectori rimatus intimavi, quod sol justitiae sexta aetate orbus est in novissima hora hujus seculi.”

22. HE I, 6, 7 (P. I, 15–17, 22; F. I, 16, 20): “praedieans Evangelium regni. …”

23. HE I, 9 (P. I, 33): “Et hoc vespere, id est fine seculorum propinquante, peregit. …” (F. I, 29–30).

24. HE I, 14 (P. I, 59–60; F. I, 53–54).

25. HE I, 15 (P. I, 66–67; F. I, 59–60).

26. HE I, 22 (Cf. HE I; 19–21); F. I, 83–84, 73–83. Cf. Aug., De Evangelistarum Consensu, III, 69ff.Google Scholar

27. HE IX, 3 (F. III, 72–73); HE V, I (F. II, 112–13); Ghellinck, , L'essor, pp. 98, 101Google Scholar; Wolter, OV, pp. 17ff., 85ff.

28. HE VII, 15 (F., II, 404); HE VIII, 15 (F. II, 503–04).

29. HE VIII, 16–17 (F. II, 507, 511–20).

30. HE VI, 1 (F. II, 240–41).

31. HE VI, 1 (F. II, 241); P. III, 1–3: “De cursu tamen saeculi et rebus humanis veraeiter seribendum est, atqne ad laudem Creatoris et omnium rerun justi guberuatoris chronographia pangenda est. Aeturnus enim conditor usque modo operatur, et omnia mire disponit; de cujus gloriosis actibus quisque pro suo libitu et posse pie promat, quod ei divinitus inspiratum fuerit!” Cf. Wolter, OV, pp. 72ff.; Leelercq, , Amour des lettres, pp. 151ff.Google Scholar

32. HE IX, 1 (P. III, 457ff.; F. III, 58ff.): “Vicissitudines temporum et rerum aeternus Conditor sapienter salubriterque ordinat, nec ad libitus infrunitorum res humanas disponit ae variat; sed in manu potenti et braehio excelso pie servat, congrue provehit ae dispensat.”

33. HE I, Prol. (P. I, 2): “aliquid actitare quod meis debeat symmaticis placere” (F. I, 1–2). On Ordericus' sources and use of them see Wolter, OV, pp. 91–100 and Thompson, , History, I, 240.Google Scholar

34. HE V, 1 (F. II, 112); HE III, 6ff (P. II, 93; F. I, 441ff.): “Nos autem, quia saecularibus curiis non insistimus, sed in claustris monasterii degentes mouasticis rebus incumbimus …”

35. HE III, 2ff. (P. II, 15ff.; F. I, 384ff.); HE V, 13ff. (F. II, 187ff.); HE VI, 9, 10 (F. II, 273f., 315ff.). On St. Evroult, see Wolter, OV, pp. 29–46.

36. HE III, 2 (F. I, 384–400).

37. HE III, 2–3 (F. I, 388–89, 402–04).

38. HE III, 3 (F. I, 406–08).

39. HE III, 3–4 (F. I, 409–22); HE VI, 10 (F. II, 315–17).

40. HE XII, 21 (F. IV, 1–12, 8).

41. HE XII, 21 (F. IV, 12ff.).

42. Quotations all according to HE XII, 21 (F. IV, 13–16).

43. HE XII, 30 (F. IV, 45–48).

44. HE IV, 1 (F. II, 1ff.).

45. HE IV, 1 (F. II, 2ff.); HE VII, 15 (F. II, 411ff.).

46. HE VII, 14–16 (F. II, 401–23).

47. HE IX, 1ff. (F. III, 58–61).

48. HE XII, 2Sf. (F. IV, 33–42). Henry I of England lost his sons, William and Richard, in the wreck of the Blamche-Nef off Harfleur, 1120

49. Wolter, OV, pp. 12–16, quotes a number of them.

50. F. IV, xlix-1.

51. Thompson, , History, I, 238Google Scholar; Ghellinck, , L'essor, II, 98.Google Scholar