Rodulfus Glaber

Rodulfus Glaber ( Latin glaber = " the Bald ", also Radulfus Glaber, Raoul Glaber, * to 985 in Burgundy. † by 1047 in Saint- Germain d' Auxerre ) was a Burgundian Benedictine monk, historian and hagiographer.

Life

Rodulfus was because of disobedience passed the age of twelve by his uncle, a monk who raised him, the monastery of Saint -Léger -de- Champeaux, where he was soon expelled because he monastic life not subordinated itself and was regarded as contentious. Its changeable CV led him over time into a series of Burgundian monasteries. However, is not known when he lived in what monastery. Its presence has been demonstrated in the following monasteries: Moutiers -Saint- Jean, Saint- Bénigne à Dijon, Cluny, Moutier and Saint-Germain d' Auxerre.

To 1028, he traveled with William of Volpiano, the abbot of Saint- Bénigne, Italy. Inspired by Wilhelm, he began his major work, the " Historiae ", a historical work, covering the period from about 900 to about 1040. Special emphasis were the years around 1000 and around 1033, which he regarded as particularly significant. In this five-volume historical work portrays Rodulfus particularly strange or terrifying events, heresies, work of the devil, miracles, visions, and moral decay. He also reports on famine and even cannibalism in Burgundy. This he interpreted as eschatological sign of the impending apocalypse. He dedicated this chronicle Odilo of Cluny. Today, some have survived a few manuscripts of the " Historiae ", including also an author copy.

Second, extant work Rodulfus wrote a Life of William of Volpiano, probably taken shortly after his death in 1031.

Rodulfus belonged to circles of the church reforms of the 11th century, which can be recognized by its very bipartisan representation of events and people. In particular, his sympathy is not in the popular circles rulers reformer Henry II, Henry III. and Robert II of France. However, be judged negative in the chronicle Conrad II and anti-reform and immoral popes such as Benedict IX .. The source of events is the work due to its chronological and geographical inadequacy of limited value, however, it is significant as a cultural- historical document for morals and manners of the 11th century.

Rodulfus wrote his works in Latin means, but which is used without literary claim. A summary of the events according to their importance does not take place, so that trivialities are mentioned on a par with major events.

Works

• Historiarum libri quinque from anno Incarnationis DCCCC usque ad annum MXLIV or Historiae (titles not contemporary handed ). Excerpts: Georg Heinrich Pertz et al (eds): Scriptores ( in folio ) 7: Chronica et gesta aevi Salici. Hanover, 1846, pp. 48-72 ( Monumenta Historica Germaniae, digitized )
• Wilhelmi Abbatis gestorum liber