Richer of Rheims
| Historia | |
|---|---|
| "The History" | |
| Full title | Historiarum Libri Quatuor |
| Author(s) | Richer of Reims |
| Dedicated to | Gerbert d'Aurillac, Archbishop of Reims |
| Language | medieval Latin |
| Date | c. 995/6 |
| Manuscript(s) | Bamberg State Library, Msc.Hist.5 (Richer's autograph) |
| Genre | history |
| Subject | West-Frankish kingdom |
| Period covered | AD 888—995, Charles the Bald to Hugh Capet |
| Sources | include annals by Flodoard and a history of the church of Reims |
Richerus or Richer of Reims (fl. 10th century) was a monk of Saint-Remi, just outside Reims, and a historian, an important source for the contemporary kingdom of France.
He was a son of Rodulf, a trusty councillor and captain of Louis IV of France (r. 936-954). He studied at Reims under Gerbert, afterwards Pope Silvester II, who taught him mathematics, history, letters and eloquence. He was also well versed in the medical science of his time, and in 991 travelled to Chartres to consult the medical manuscripts there. He was still living in 998, but there is no mention of him after that date.
In the 19th century, it was thought by both French and German scholars that Richerus was an ardent supporter of the Carolingians and French supremacy, as opposed to the Ottonians, but this view has since been tempered somewhat. Whatever one makes of Richer's political biases, inaccuracies and his taste for stylistic embellishment, his Historiae has a unique value as giving us the only tolerably full account by a contemporary of the memorable revolution of 987, which placed the Capets on the throne of France.
The Historiae, in four books, spans the period from 888 to 995. It begins with Charles the Fat and Eudes, and goes down to the year 995. For the first two books, Richerus made extensive use of the annals and church history written by Flodoard (d. 966). From 969 onwards Richerus had no earlier history before him, and his work is the chief source for the period.
The history survives in a single manuscript (Bamberg State Library, Msc.Hist.5), discovered in the early part of the nineteenth century. It was the author's autograph and showed signs of continuous revision, probably until his death.
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