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abstract:By examining the first Venetian chronicle written after the Fourth Crusade, the Historia ducum Venetorum(1102–1229), this article shows how the Venetian ruling elites wanted to present their recent past. In particular, it proves that the author of that work and probably many of his fellow countrymen wished to point out that the Venetians gave fundamental support toward the defense and strengthening of the Kingdom of Jerusalem without expecting any material reward. Moreover, the Venetians had always been good friends and allies of the Byzantines, and the deterioration of this relationship and the conquest of Constantinople had to be attributed to the irresponsible behavior and ingratitude of the Byzantine emperors. By distorting or omitting a few events, they also wanted to demonstrate that Venice always enjoyed a perfect internal harmony and, therefore, represented an ideal society.

abstract:The study of miracles, visions, predictions, and other supernatural phenomena has become important for understanding religious practices, mentalities, and the use of the past in the Middle Ages. In spite of the absence of local martyrs and saints and the small hagiographical production in Venice during the early Middle Ages, these phenomena were also relevant in this region. This article emphasizes both the unique aspects of the Venetian texts and their similarities with early medieval sources from the rest of Italy. In particular, it focuses on the ways Venetian authors employed miracles and divine interventions to shape a past that could be utilized for their present.

Abstract:This article analyzes how the neighbors of the Byzantines, the Lombards (who occupied a portion of southern Italy), and the Normans (who put an end to Byzantine rule in southern Italy in 1071), described their common adversary. The examination of the features that the chroniclers living in early medieval southern Italy attributed to the Byzantines demonstrates that, at least for this part of Europe, there is evidence of strong hostility to Byzantium before the twelfth century, a period traditionally perceived as crucial for the deterioration of relations between Westerners and Constantinople.

Abstract:At the end of the ninth century, the Cassinese monk Erchempert composed a chronicle (ca. 774-889) blaming the southern Italian Lombard leaders for recent Lombard defeats. Erchempert hoped that future generations might learn from their forebears' folly. This article analyzes the reasons why, in the wake of his monastery's destruction by Muslim raiders, Erchempert did not express a generalized criticism toward all the elites of his homeland. The article also demonstrates that Erchempert's attachment to his people and his pride in being Lombard sometimes led him to stray from his intended narrative of Lombard failures and catastrophes.

This article challenges the assertion that the anonymous dedicatory poem-addressed to Aio (884-891), the prince of Benevento-represents the proem of the Cassinese monk Erchempert’s Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum(ca. late 9th c.). First, the linguistic and stylistic differences between the two works far outnumber the supposed similarities. This indicates that the author of the carmen possessed a deeper understanding of Latin than the chronicler. The principle discrepancy, however, lies in that in the dedication Aio’s talents are extolled-describing him as the initiator of a new shining era-whereas, in the chronicle, although not condemning Aio, Erchempert’s tone is not overly laudatory. If the Cassinese monk truly is the author of the poetic composition, then he wrote it with such a style and intent that it would be a direct departure from the tone of the Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum.

The achievement of autonomy from the Byzantine Empire and the political fragmentation of southern Italy made the second half of the eighth century and the ninth century a crucial period for the history of Naples. In those years the Neapolitan rulers tried to legitimize and to strengthen their power, and during this process they attempted to take control of the Neapolitan Church, which inevitably led to conflicts with the local ecclesiastics. This article analyzes how this period is described in the Gesta episcoporum Neapolitanorumof John the Deacon, who probably composed this work between the end of the ninth century and the beginning of the tenth century. It demonstrates that the author of the "Deeds of the Neapolitan Bishops" wanted to emphasize not only that all the Neapolitan prelates had taken care of the religious buildings and of their flock, but also that they had not been accommodating to secular power.