1. The De Obitu Willelmi: Propaganda for the Anglo-Norman Succession, 1087-88?
- Author
-
Lack, Katherine
- Subjects
- *
MEDIEVAL manuscripts , *ANGLO-Norman manuscripts , *ROYAL succession , *PROPAGANDA , *ANGLO-Normans , *CONQUERORS , *DEATHBEDS , *REIGN of William I, Great Britain, 1066-1087 ,BRITISH history sources - Abstract
The article examines the evidence for the date and authorship of the "De obitu Willelmi," the only extant copies of the B redaction of the "Gesta Normannorum Ducum." It is an intriguing text consisting of 654 words and is proposed to be an account of the deathbed of William the Conqueror and describe how he divided his realm between his sons Robert and William. It notes that the complete text of "De obitu" is contained in the B2, a Durham manuscript and is known to have been corrected in the 12th century. Furthermore, Einhard's "Life of Charlemagne" and the life of Louis the Pious by the anonymous Astronomer are the two ninth-century sources that revealed that "De obitu" is a pastiche on the major study conducted by Engels.
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF