Richer of Senones
Encyclopedia
Richer of Senones (circa 1190–1266) was a monk and chronicler of Senones Abbey
in Lorraine
, a traveller and one of the very few chroniclers or historians of the Vosges
whose works have survived complete.
), perhaps a younger son of an Alsatian
or Lotharingian
noble family. He studied at Strasbourg
and was admitted to Senones Abbey under abbot Henri (1202–1225). In about 1218 Richer was sent as an ambassador of Senones to Würzburg
when Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine
, was prisoner of Emperor Frederick II
, after the fire of Nancy and the siege of Amance
.
He travelled extensively throughout the Vosges, which he knew extremely well, and throughout Alsace and Lorraine, where he often encountered monks from Lièpvre
Priory as well as monks from St. Denis' Abbey in Paris
, who had possessions in the Val de Lièpvre. He visited St. Denis' Abbey himself in 1223, probably together with monks from Lièpvre. He often visited the castles of Bilstein in Urbeis
and Echéry
in Sainte Croix-aux-Mines, as well as the renowned castle of Bernstein
. He also knew Gorze Abbey
, St. Evre's Abbey, Toul
, and the abbey at Saint-Dié.
His Latin
chronicles survive in nine copy manucripts. Four date from the 16th century, two are translations, another two are from the 17th century and one is from 1826. The copies originate from the monasteries at Senones, Moyenmoutier and Etival.
Senones Abbey
Senones Abbey was a Benedictine abbey located in the valley of the Rabodeau, in the present village of Senones in Lorraine, France.-History:...
in Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, a traveller and one of the very few chroniclers or historians of the Vosges
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
whose works have survived complete.
Life
He was born probably around 1190, quite possibly in the Val de Lièpvre (now in Haut-RhinHaut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
), perhaps a younger son of an Alsatian
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
or Lotharingian
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
noble family. He studied at Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
and was admitted to Senones Abbey under abbot Henri (1202–1225). In about 1218 Richer was sent as an ambassador of Senones to Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
when Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine
Theobald I, Duke of Lorraine
Theobald I was the duke of Lorraine from 1213 to his death. He was the son and successor of Frederick II and Agnes of Bar....
, was prisoner of Emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
, after the fire of Nancy and the siege of Amance
Amance, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Amance is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.- See also :* Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
.
He travelled extensively throughout the Vosges, which he knew extremely well, and throughout Alsace and Lorraine, where he often encountered monks from Lièpvre
Lièpvre
Lièpvre is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.In the 8th century saint and abbot, Fulrad, built a monastery and filled it with relics of Saint Cucuphas.-Geography:...
Priory as well as monks from St. Denis' Abbey in 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...
, who had possessions in the Val de Lièpvre. He visited St. Denis' Abbey himself in 1223, probably together with monks from Lièpvre. He often visited the castles of Bilstein in Urbeis
Urbeis
Urbeis is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
and Echéry
Château d'Échéry
Château d'Échéry is a ruined château situated in the département of Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France. It is dated to the 13th century....
in Sainte Croix-aux-Mines, as well as the renowned castle of Bernstein
Château du Bernstein
The Château du Bernstein is a ruined castle in the commune of Dambach-la-ville, in the Bas-Rhin département of France. It is situated at an altitude of 557m ....
. He also knew Gorze Abbey
Gorze Abbey
Gorze Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Gorze in the present arrondissement of Metz-Campagne, near Metz in Lorraine. It was prominent as the source of a monastic reform movement in the 930s.-History:...
, St. Evre's Abbey, Toul
St. Evre's Abbey, Toul
The Abbey of St. Evre, Toul was a Benedictine, later Cluniac, monastery in Toul, France. Established in or just before 507, it was the oldest monastery in Lorraine and of great significance in the monastic and religious reforms in the Rhine and Moselle region of the 10th and 11th...
, and the abbey at Saint-Dié.
Works
Richer is an enthusiastic recorder of his travels, and of religious stories and traditions that he has encountered. Unusually for the time, he is also a fine observer of landscapes, particularly the spectacular scenery of the Vosges, and takes great pains to describe what he has observed. A peculiarity of his language is the use of the word "Teudons" to describe the inhabitants of Alsace.His Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
chronicles survive in nine copy manucripts. Four date from the 16th century, two are translations, another two are from the 17th century and one is from 1826. The copies originate from the monasteries at Senones, Moyenmoutier and Etival.
Sources
- Dantand, Dominique, 1988: Chronique de Richer, moine de Senones au XIIIe siècle. DEA d’Histoire médiévale, Université de Nancy II
- Dantand, Dominique, 1996: La Chronique de Richer de Senones. Présentation, édition et traduction. Doctorat d’Histoire Médiévale, Université de Nancy II
- Jérôme, L. 1902: L’Abbaye de Moyenmoutier. Librairie Victor Lecoffre
- Gasse-Grandjean, Marie José, 1992: Les livres dans les abbayes vosgiennes du Moyen Âge. Presses Universitaires de Nancy