Dudo of Saint-Quentin
Encyclopedia
Dudo, or Dudon was a Norman
historian
, and dean of Saint-Quentin, where he was born about 965. Sent in 986 by Albert I, Count of Vermandois, on an errand to Richard I, Duke of Normandy
, he succeeded in his mission, and, having made a very favorable impression at the Norman court, spent some years in that country. During a second stay in Normandy
, Dudo wrote his history of the Normans, a task which Duke Richard had urged him to undertake. Very little else is known about his life, except that he died before 1043.
. Dudo does not appear to have consulted any existing documents for his history, but to have obtained his information from oral tradition
, much of it being supplied by Raoul, count of Ivry, a half-brother of Duke Richard. Consequently the Historia partakes of the nature of a romance
, and on this ground has been regarded as untrustworthy by such competent critics as Ernst Dümmler
and Georg Waitz
. Other authorities, however, e.g., J. Lair and J. Steenstrup, while admitting the existence of a legendary element, regard the book as of considerable value for the history of the Normans.
Although Dudo was acquainted with Virgil
(Aeneid) and other Latin writers, his Latin is affected and obscure. The Historia, which is written alternately in prose
and in verse
of several metres, is divided into four parts, and deals with the history of the Normans from 852 to the death of Duke Richard in 996. It glorifies the Normans, and was largely used by William of Jumièges
, Wace
, Robert of Torigni
, William of Poitiers
and Hugh of Fleury
in compiling their chronicles.
More recently, Leah Shopkow has argued that Carolingian writing, particularly two saints' lives, the ninth-century Vita S. Germani by Heiric of Auxerre
and the early tenth-century Vita S. Lamberti by Stephen of Liège
, provided models for Dudo's work.
The work was first published by A. Duchesne in his Historiae Normannorum scriptores antiqui, at Paris
in 1619. Another edition is in the Patrologia Latina
, tome cxli, of J. P. Migne
(Paris, 1844), but the best is perhaps the one edited by J. Lair (Caen, 1865).
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and dean of Saint-Quentin, where he was born about 965. Sent in 986 by Albert I, Count of Vermandois, on an errand to Richard I, Duke of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy , also known as Richard the Fearless , was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996; he is considered the first to have held that title.-Birth:He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota...
, he succeeded in his mission, and, having made a very favorable impression at the Norman court, spent some years in that country. During a second stay in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, Dudo wrote his history of the Normans, a task which Duke Richard had urged him to undertake. Very little else is known about his life, except that he died before 1043.
Historia Normannorum
Written between 1015 and 1030, his Historia Normannorum, or Libri III de moribus et actis primorum Normanniae ducum, was dedicated to Adalberon, bishop of LaonAdalberon, Bishop of Laon
Adalberon, or Ascelin was a French bishop and poet. He was a son of Reginar of Bastogne, and a nephew of Adalberon, Archbishop of Reims.-Life:...
. Dudo does not appear to have consulted any existing documents for his history, but to have obtained his information from oral tradition
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
, much of it being supplied by Raoul, count of Ivry, a half-brother of Duke Richard. Consequently the Historia partakes of the nature of a romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
, and on this ground has been regarded as untrustworthy by such competent critics as Ernst Dümmler
Ernst Dümmler
Ernst Ludwig Dümmler was a German historian.The son of Ferdinand Dümmler , a Berlin bookseller, Ernst Ludwig was born in Berlin...
and Georg Waitz
Georg Waitz
Georg Waitz was a German historian and politician.He was born at Flensburg, in the duchy of Schleswig and educated at the Flensburg gymnasium and the universities of Kiel and Berlin...
. Other authorities, however, e.g., J. Lair and J. Steenstrup, while admitting the existence of a legendary element, regard the book as of considerable value for the history of the Normans.
Although Dudo was acquainted with Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
(Aeneid) and other Latin writers, his Latin is affected and obscure. The Historia, which is written alternately in prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
and in verse
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
of several metres, is divided into four parts, and deals with the history of the Normans from 852 to the death of Duke Richard in 996. It glorifies the Normans, and was largely used by William of Jumièges
William of Jumièges
William of Jumièges was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of our earliest writers on the subject of the Norman Conquest. He is himself a "shadowy figure", only known by his dedicatory letter to King William as a monk of Jumièges...
, Wace
Wace
Wace was a Norman poet, who was born in Jersey and brought up in mainland Normandy , ending his career as Canon of Bayeux.-Life:...
, Robert of Torigni
Robert of Torigni
Robert of Torigni was a Norman monk and chronicler. He was born at Torigni-sur-Vire in central Normandy, at an unknown date. He entered the monastery of Le Bec in 1128 and became prior there about 1149. He was elected abbot of Mont-Saint-Michel in 1154, and served there until his death.Robert was...
, William of Poitiers
William of Poitiers
William of Poitiers was a Norman chronicler most famous for his eulogistic account of Duke William of Normandy , called the Gesta Guillelmi II ducis Normannorum.-Life:...
and Hugh of Fleury
Hugh of Fleury
Hugh of Fleury was a French Benedictine monk and ecclesiastical writer. He is known only by his works....
in compiling their chronicles.
More recently, Leah Shopkow has argued that Carolingian writing, particularly two saints' lives, the ninth-century Vita S. Germani by Heiric of Auxerre
Heiric of Auxerre
Heiric of Auxerre was a French Benedictine theologian and writer.He was an oblate of the monastery of St. Germanus of Auxerre, from a young age. He studied with Servatus Lupus and Haymo of Auxerre. His own students included Remigius of Auxerre and Hucbald.His Miracula sancti Germani was a verse...
and the early tenth-century Vita S. Lamberti by Stephen of Liège
Stephen of Liège
Stephen of Liège was bishop of Liège from 901 to 920. He was a hagiographer and composer of church music.He was an abbot of Lobbes and canon of Metz Cathedral. His In Festi Sanctisissimae Trinitatis, an office for the feast of the Trinity, is available as a recording...
, provided models for Dudo's work.
The work was first published by A. Duchesne in his Historiae Normannorum scriptores antiqui, at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1619. Another edition is in the Patrologia Latina
Patrologia Latina
The Patrologia Latina is an enormous collection of the writings of the Church Fathers and other ecclesiastical writers published by Jacques-Paul Migne between 1844 and 1855, with indices published between 1862 and 1865....
, tome cxli, of J. P. Migne
Jacques Paul Migne
Jacques Paul Migne was a French priest who published inexpensive and widely-distributed editions of theological works, encyclopedias and the texts of the Church Fathers, with the goal of providing a universal library for the Catholic priesthood.He was born at Saint-Flour, Cantal and studied...
(Paris, 1844), but the best is perhaps the one edited by J. Lair (Caen, 1865).
Edition and translation
- Lair, Jules (ed.). De moribus et actis primorum Normanniæ ducum. Mémoires de la Société des Antiquaires de Normandie 23. Caen, 1865. PDF scan available from Google Books.
- Christiansen, Eric. (tr.). Dudo of St Quentin. History of the Normans. Woodbridge, 1998. ISBN 0-85115-552-9.
Further reading
- Dümmler, Ernst. Zur Kritik Dudos von St Quentin in the Forschungen zur deutschen Geschichte, Bande vi and ix (Göttingen, 1866)
- Fauroux, M. Recueil des actes des dues de Normandie de 911 a 1066. Caen, 1961.
- Kortung, G. Uber die Quellen des Roman de Rou (Leipzig, 1867)
- Lair, J.. Etude critique et historique sur Dudon (Caen, 1865)
- Molinier, A.. Les Sources de l'histoire de France, tome ii (Paris, 1902)
- Shopkow, Leah. "The Carolingian World of Dudo of Saint-Quentin." Journal of Medieval History 15 (1989): 19-37.
- Steenstrup, J.C.H.R. Normannerne, Band i (Copenhagen 1876)
- Searle, E. "Fact and pattern in heroic history: Dudo of Saint-Quentin." Viator 15 (1984): 119-37.
- Wattenbach, W.. Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen, Band i (Berlin, 1904)
- Waitz, G.Georg WaitzGeorg Waitz was a German historian and politician.He was born at Flensburg, in the duchy of Schleswig and educated at the Flensburg gymnasium and the universities of Kiel and Berlin...
. Uber die Quellen zur Geschichte der Begrundung der normannischen Herrschaft in Frankreich, in the Gottinger gel. Anzeigen (Göttingen, 1866)
External links
- Dudo, Historia Normannorum:
- Latin text and English translation, The Orb.
- Latin text, Bibliotheca Augustana.
- Latin text