Metz Annals

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As Metzer annals , actually Latin Annales Mettenses (priores) , one authored in Latin anonymous is Franconian historical work from the early 9th century called.

The work is often called Annales Mettenses priores (older or earlier Metz Annals), as there is also a later processing and continuation of the Annals , which is now called Annales Mettenses posteriores . The Metz Annals were referred to as Annales Francorum Mettenses in 1641 by their first editor, André Duchesne . Until the 19th century it under understood Annales Mettenses the Annales Mettenses posterior . It was not until Karl Ludwig Hampe discovered a manuscript from the 12th century in the cathedral library of Durham in 1895 that an independent work existed earlier, known today as Annales Mettenses priores to distinguish it from the later version and to which the refer to the following explanations.

Duchesne assumed that the annals were written in Metz because the manuscript available to him came from this city and was particularly praised in the work of Arnulf von Metz . According to recent research, however, the work was written in a different location, perhaps in Chelles Abbey (according to Hartmut Hoffmann ). It is possible that Gisela, a sister of Charlemagne and abbess in the monastery there, suggested the writing of the annals, which probably took place in 806. However, research also considered Saint-Denis as a possible place of origin (according to Irene Hasselbach). Possibly the anonymous author was a woman himself, although this has recently been doubted.

Events from the Merovingian and Carolingian times are described in the Metz annals . The annals begin in the year 678 and end in 805. Later additions can be found up to the year 830/831, but these no longer come from the same author and follow the descriptions of the Reichsannals until 829 ; this is followed by a final addition to the year 830.

The annals offer a compilation from older sources (including the continuation of the Fredegar Chronicle and the Reichsannalen), but apparently also contain material from works that are lost today; the description of the years 803 to 805 is evidently independent. The author of the Metz Annals often took entire passages from his templates, but did not always strictly adhere to the annalistic representation scheme. The presentation is sometimes quite detailed, but not always reliable, mainly due to the unmistakably pro-Carolingian tendency. In terms of style, influences of the so-called “ Carolingian Renaissance ” can be identified in the annals , which relates to certain references to ancient authors. In this sense, the presentation surpassed that of the Liber Historiae Francorum by far and is also more detailed, for example with regard to the Battle of Tertry .

In principle, the annals represent a Carolingian family history. The author's aim was evidently to glorify the Carolingian house, from the rise in the Merovingian Empire to the Divisio Regnorum , which the work was supposed to justify as well as the rule of the Carolingians in general. The Carolingian kings appear in the annals as the fulfillers of a divine plan and the rise of the Carolingians to royal power and ultimately to empire thus as a logical development. Since the power of the Carolingians seemed to be consolidated during this time, the work contains a lot of information about their opponents from earlier times, which was now apparently perceived as unproblematic.

Editions and translations

  • Bernhard von Simson (ed.): Scriptores rerum Germanicarum in usum scholarum separately in editi 10: Annales Mettenses priores. Hanover 1905 ( Monumenta Germaniae Historica , digitized version ).
  • Paul Fouracre, Richard A. Gerberding (Eds.): Late Merovingian France: history and hagiography, 640-720 . Manchester 1996, p. 350ff. [engl. Partial translation]

literature

  • Irene Hasselbach: Rise and rule of the Karlingers in the presentation of the so-called Annales Mettenses priores . Lübeck / Hamburg 1970.
  • Hartmut Hoffmann: Studies on Carolingian annals . Bonn 1958 (also partly dissertation Marburg 1954).
  • Rosamond McKitterick : Charlemagne. The Formation of a European Identity . Cambridge 2008.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Hartmut Hoffmann: Studies on Carolingian annals . Bonn 1958, p. 53ff.
  2. ↑ Irene Hasselbach: Rise and rule of the Karlingers in the presentation of the so-called Annales Mettenses priores . Lübeck / Hamburg 1970, p. 24. Rosamond McKitterick: Charlemagne . Cambridge 2008, p. 61f., Indicates other places of origin, but also considers Chelles to be the most likely.
  3. ^ Paul Fouracre, Richard A. Gerberding (Ed.): Late Merovingian France . Manchester 1996, p. 338.
  4. ↑ This last addition can also be found in von Simsons Edition: Annales Mettenses priores , pp. 95-98.
  5. ↑ Rosamond McKitterick: Charlemagne . Cambridge 2008, p. 61.
  6. ↑ See generally Paul Fouracre, Richard A. Gerberding (ed.): Late Merovingian France . Manchester 1996, p. 340ff.