Scandinavian history in the Viking age - Department of Anglo-Saxon ...
Scandinavian history in the Viking age - Department of Anglo-Saxon ...
Scandinavian history in the Viking age - Department of Anglo-Saxon ...
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<strong>Scand<strong>in</strong>avian</strong> History <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vik<strong>in</strong>g Age<br />
Annals<br />
Numerous sets <strong>of</strong> annals were produced <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>gian empire, and <strong>the</strong>y provide a fundamental<br />
source for n<strong>in</strong>th-century Denmark <strong>in</strong> particular. The earliest and <strong>in</strong> some ways most authoritative set,<br />
cover<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> late eighth and early n<strong>in</strong>th centuries, is <strong>the</strong>:<br />
[B50] Royal Frankish annals. Text: F. Kurze, Annales regni Francorum <strong>in</strong>de ab A. 741 usque ad A.<br />
829, MGH SRG (1895) [UL 570:01.c.8.16]. Transl.: B.W. Scholz, Carol<strong>in</strong>gian chronicles: Royal<br />
Frankish annals and Nithard’s histories (1970) [UL 560:46.c.95.12]<br />
Fur<strong>the</strong>r annals were compiled as cont<strong>in</strong>uations <strong>in</strong> various monastic houses, but only a couple are as yet<br />
readily available <strong>in</strong> English. For text and German translation <strong>of</strong> three <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most useful <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se, see:<br />
[B51] R. Rau et al., Quellen zur karol<strong>in</strong>gischen Reichsgeschichte. II: Jahrbücher von St. Bert<strong>in</strong>;<br />
Jahrbücher von St. Vaast; Xantener Jahrbücher, AQDGM 6 (1956) [UL 570:01.c.57.6]<br />
[B52] Fulda (cover<strong>in</strong>g 828 to 902). Text: F. Kurze, Annales Fuldenses sive Annales regni Francorum<br />
orientalis, 2nd edn, MGH SRG (1891) [UL 570:01.c.8.18]. Transl.: T. Reuter, The annals <strong>of</strong> Fulda:<br />
n<strong>in</strong>th-century histories vol. 2 (1992) [UL 570:85.c.95.3]. Text and German transl.: (B60a):19-177<br />
[B53] Sa<strong>in</strong>t-Bert<strong>in</strong> (cover<strong>in</strong>g 830 to 882). Text: G. Waitz, Annales Bert<strong>in</strong>iani, MGH SRG (1883) [UL<br />
570:01.c.8.10]. Transl.: J.L. Nelson, The annals <strong>of</strong> St-Bert<strong>in</strong>: n<strong>in</strong>th-century histories vol. 1 (1991) [UL<br />
560:46.c.95.31]. Text and German transl.: (B51):11-287<br />
[B54] Xanten (cover<strong>in</strong>g 831 to 873). Text: B. de Simson, Annales Xantenses, MGH SRG (1909) [UL<br />
570:01.c.8.24]. Transl. excerpts <strong>in</strong> (B36):391-94 (for years 844-62). Text and German transl.: (B51):339-<br />
71<br />
[B55] Sa<strong>in</strong>t-Vaast (cover<strong>in</strong>g 874 to 900). Text: B. de Simson, Annales Vedast<strong>in</strong>i, MGH SRG (1909)<br />
[UL 570:01.c.8.24]. Text and German transl.: (B51):289-337. Transl. excerpts <strong>in</strong> (B36):477-81 (for years<br />
882-86)<br />
Histories and chronicles<br />
The most important historical work for Vik<strong>in</strong>g-<strong>age</strong> Scand<strong>in</strong>avia is Adam <strong>of</strong> Bremen’s Gesta (B73). O<strong>the</strong>r<br />
chronicles tend not to conta<strong>in</strong> much <strong>in</strong>formation on Scand<strong>in</strong>avia, but when <strong>the</strong>y do it is <strong>of</strong>ten <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form<br />
<strong>of</strong> priceless historical nuggets.<br />
[B60] Reg<strong>in</strong>o <strong>of</strong> Prüm (died 915) composed his Chronica cover<strong>in</strong>g events up to 906; his work was later<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ued by Adalbert <strong>of</strong> Magdeburg until 967. Text: F. Kurze, Reg<strong>in</strong>onis abbatis Prumiensis Chronicon<br />
cum cont<strong>in</strong>uatione Treverensi, MGH SRG (1890) [UL 570:01.c.8.18]. [a] Text and German transl.: R.<br />
Rau et al., Quellen zur karol<strong>in</strong>gischen Reichsgeschichte. III: Jahrbücher von Fulda; Reg<strong>in</strong>o, Chronik;<br />
Notker, Taten Karls, AQDGM 7 (1960), 179-319 [UL 570:01.c.57.7]; for Adalbert’s cont<strong>in</strong>uation, see<br />
(B61a):185-231<br />
[B61] Widuk<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> Corvey composed his <strong>history</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Saxon</strong>s around 970; it is <strong>of</strong> great value for its<br />
depiction <strong>of</strong> Harald bluetooth’s acceptance <strong>of</strong> Christianity a few years previously. Text: P. Hirsch et al.,<br />
Widuk<strong>in</strong>di monachi Corbeiensis Rerum gestarum saxonicarum libri tres, MGH SRG, 5th edn (1935) [UL<br />
570:01.c.8.31]. [a] Text and German transl.: A. Bauer et al., Quellen zur Geschichte der sächsischen<br />
Kaiserzeit: Widuk<strong>in</strong>ds Sachsengeschichte, Adalberts Fortsetzung der Chronik Reg<strong>in</strong>os, Liudprands<br />
Werke, AQDGM 8 (1971) [UL 570:01.c.57.8], 1-183<br />
[B62] Liudprand <strong>of</strong> Cremona was a tenth-century bishop and statesman, especially under emperor Otto<br />
I; two <strong>of</strong> his works, <strong>the</strong> Antapodosis and <strong>the</strong> Relatio de legatione Constant<strong>in</strong>opolitana were composed on<br />
<strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> his ambassadorial missions to Byzantium around 970, and conta<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g observations on<br />
<strong>the</strong> Rus’ (J26 ff.). Text: G.H. Pertz, Liudprandi episcopi Cremonensis opera omnia, MGH SRG (1839)<br />
[UL 570:01.c.8.2]. Transl.: F.A. Wright, Liudprand <strong>of</strong> Cremona: <strong>the</strong> Embassy to Constant<strong>in</strong>ople and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r writ<strong>in</strong>gs (1993) [UL 1994.7.1140]. Text and German transl. <strong>in</strong> (B61a):233-589<br />
[B63] Thietmar <strong>of</strong> Merseburg (975-1018) composed his Chronicon <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> early eleventh century; it is<br />
<strong>of</strong> particular <strong>in</strong>terest for his accounts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> exploits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Anglo</strong>-Danish k<strong>in</strong>gs. Text: F. Kurze,<br />
Thietmari Merseburgensis episcopi Chronicon, MGH SRG (1889) [UL 570:01.c.8.13]; R. Holtzmann,<br />
Die Chronik des Bisch<strong>of</strong>s Thietmar von Merseburg und ihre Korveier Überarbeitung, MGH SRG n.s. 12<br />
(1935) [UL 570:01.c.10.9]. Transl.: D.A. Warner, Ottonian Germany: <strong>the</strong> Chronicon <strong>of</strong> Thietmar <strong>of</strong><br />
Merseburg (2001) [UL 570:86.c.200.2]. Text and German transl.: W. Trillmich, Thietmar von<br />
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