Guibert of Nogent

Guibert of Nogent (* 1055, † 1125 ) was a Benedictine, historian and theologian, and the author of autobiographical memories. He was born 1053-1065, Labande preferred 1055th His exact birthplace is unknown, but was near Beauvais. Were discussed Autreville, Agnetz, Bourgin, Catenoy and Clermont -en- Beauvaisis. He died probably 1125th

In his time, he was almost unknown, was barely mentioned by his contemporaries, but has attracted the attention of research stimulated by his detailed descriptions that provide an insight into life in the Middle Ages.

Guibert was born of noble parents. The birth cost - following his instructions - his mother and him almost life. His father was a violent, faithless and dissolute and died within Guibert's first year of life. His mother was of great beauty and intelligence, dominant and aggressive puritanical attitude. They took control of his upbringing, isolated him from peers and trusted him from his sixth to the twelfth year one - after Guibert memory - demanding to the point of cruelty, while incompetent private teachers. Around the time of his 12th year of life his mother moved back into an abbey at Saint -Germer -de- Fly ( between Beauvais and Rouen ), while Guibert her as Benediktineroblate soon followed. In the monastery, he studied with great zeal at first the ancient poet Ovid and Virgil, an experience that had a strong influence on his writings, but later moved, influenced by Anselm of Canterbury, to theology.

1104 he was appointed abbot of the small and poor monastery of Nogent -sous- Coucy, which had been founded in 1059, selected and played from then on a more important role in ecclesiastical matter, now had contact with bishops and of the court. Even more important was that he now had the time to devote himself to writing. His first major work from this period is his story of the First Crusade, the gesta Dei per Francos ( God acts by the Franks ), which he wrote 1106-1109 and in 1121 became known. The work is largely written in a style schnörkelhaftem paraphrase of the Gesta Francorum an unknown Norman author. Because Guibert's writing as close inspired by the Gesta Francorum and his Latin is difficult to read, it was long considered to be unnecessary. Today's editor and translator, however, point to its excellent style, and the original material used. Others see the style as unhappy to ( " marred by affected to style and pretentious vocabulary", R. Huygens ), R. Levine describes his style as " acrobatic ", deliberately difficult and shandyesk. Most important, however, that the Dei gesta invaluable information about the shooting of the crusade in France, both in public opinion and in Guibert's private views, provides: he knew some Crusaders personally, had grown up with them, and has after their return on their memories and experiences spoken. After Gulberts own words, he loves the obscure and despised a raw, unpolished style. "I appreciate things that take my mind more than those who are too simple to understand and a mind that is eager for novelties, not memorize. " ( Gesta, introduction book 5)

It refers to the Gesta a decidedly aristocratic and French position, which goes so far that he as Norman, classifies Bohemond of Taranto, as French. Only the Turks come to the French martial spirit of the same.

For modern readers is his 1115 autobiography written De vita sua sive libri tres monodiarum suarum, also called memoirs, the most interesting of Guibert's work. Posted toward the end of his life in the style of the Confessions of Augustine of Hippo, it records his life from childhood to after; it contains many pictorial splinter in his time and customs in his country. The description of the long existing Commune of Laon is an historical document of the first rank. He provides valuable information about daily life in the castle and monastery, about then modern methods of education, evidence on some of the important ( and less important ) figures of the era. His work is colored by his personal preferences and prejudices that still increase the value of the work, as they allow a very private view of the medieval world.