Widukind by Corvey

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Widukind von Corvey (* around 925 or 933/35; † February 3 after 973 in Corvey ) was an important Saxon historian. He is the author of the Res gestae Saxonicae , a "Saxony story", which is one of the most important and most discussed sources of the Ottonian period .

Life

Widukind may be a descendant of the Saxon Duke Widukind , the opponent of Charlemagne, due to the fact that they have the same name . Widukind stood before 942, still under Abbot I. Volkmar , in the Benedictine monastery Corvey one. According to older research, it was believed that he entered the monastery at the age of 15. His year of birth was therefore set around 925. According to another opinion, Widukind was entered on the Corveyer list “as a boy from 6 to 8 years”. Therefore, his year of birth is dated to around 933/35. Before his Saxon history, Widukind had written other writings, but these have been lost. In the monastery he wrote from 967 to 968 (then continued until 973) Die Sachsengeschichte des Widukind von Corvey in three books ( Latin : Widukindi monachi Corbeiensis rerum gestarum Saxonicarum libri tres ), dedicated to Otto I's daughter , Mathilde , the first abbess of the Quedlinburg monastery . Otto I. is likely to have seen Widukind around 28 to 30 times.

Saxony history

content

The history of Saxony consists of three books. Every book has a preface. The prefaces are both dedications and addressed to Abbess Mathilde. The first book in the history of Saxony reports on the early history of the Saxon tribe up to the death of Henry I (936). The second book describes the events from the rise of Otto I to the death of his first wife Edgitha (946). The third book originally only lasted until the year 967, but was then continued by Widukind until Otto I's death (May 7, 973). The influence of the Roman historian Sallust was formative for Widukind's historical thinking and his work .

In his work he handed down the tribal legend of the Saxons and at the same time gave the most vivid testimony to the times of Heinrich I and Otto I, the latter being the focus of his work. Widukind is permeated by the size and importance of the Saxon tribe in the past and the rulers of their time who had risen to become East Franconian kings . Hagen Keller worked out the biblical reference points in the history of Saxony . According to Keller, the speeches that Kings Heinrich and Otto gave in the history of Saxony before the war with Hungary are based on the Maccabees .

Widukind does not mention central events such as Otto I's coronation as emperor in Rome in 962, the founding of the dioceses of Brandenburg and Havelberg and the founding of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg in 968. Nonetheless, Widukind's work is the central source for the early Hottonic period and the historian takes on the position of a “key witness” for the time. Widukind was consulted not only for questions about the functioning of the Ottonian state and society, but also for questions and topics about national defense, the organization of the army as well as gestures and rituals. His work is highly controversial in terms of its source value because of its strongly pro-Saxon tendency and a number of dubious statements from a later retrospective. His statements on the transition of the rule from Conrad I to Heinrich I (918) and the coronation of Otto I (936) are hotly debated .

Dating

The exact time when the work was written has long been a matter of dispute. Widukind does not mention Otto I's coronation as emperor in Rome and the founding of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. The conclusion that can actually be drawn from this, that this version was written before 962, does not fit together with the mention of other events and was finally rejected by Edmund E. Stengel , who worked out the concept of a "Rome-free" empire. Heinrich I , who was never crowned emperor, is for him imperator (I 39) and Otto I received this name after the victorious battle against the Hungarians in 955 (III 49). Johannes Laudage undertook a new attempt at dating and Widukind's intention. In his opinion, Widukind wrote the history of Saxony for Archbishop Wilhelm von Mainz when he was still against the foundation of Magdeburg, so the work was written before 965. When Wilhelm changed his mind, Widukind rewrote the work for the emperor's daughter Mathilde.

Lore

Widukind's work has been handed down in five manuscripts from the 11th to the 16th centuries and was already received by numerous historians in the 10th century and later.

Research history

For a long time, the image of the gullible, almost naive, but in any case apolitical monk, who barely looked beyond his monastery walls, prevailed. An image that has not been completely cleared up to this day. Due to the great importance that the history of Saxony has as a source, Widukind is often interpreted as a spiritually outstanding personality. In 1950, Helmut Beumann represented his view of a stringent historiographical conception, a more differentiated political worldview and Widukind's political goals, which did not shy away from subtle criticism of the ruler. Proceeding from the fact that historiography is never “direct precipitation of historical events”, but “always perspective (e), if not tendentious (e)”, Beumann consistently asked about the “intellectual horizon of the author”, understanding historiography as “immediate Precipitation of the intellectual struggle of individual contemporaries with historical events ”. For the Widukind research, Beumann provided valid knowledge to this day, as he was the first to comprehensively examine the source and was able to gain decisive knowledge about the representation intent and intentions of Widukind. Beumann's work is fundamental to this day with regard to Widukind's narrative style, work structure and political world of thought.

Widukind characterizes modern research with the ambiguous assessment “minstrel in a cowl”, since fiction and reality are indistinguishably interwoven in his portrayal.

Widukind's description of Henry I's rising to the king triggered a fundamental controversy about the effectiveness of a culture of remembrance through the frontal criticism by Johannes Fried in 1993. According to Fried's thesis about cultures without writing, which was gained from ethnological work, the historian’s portrayal adapted flexibly “to the circumstances of the respective place and moment in which [it] was told”. The resulting view of the past was “never identical with actual history”. According to Fried's conclusion, the history of Saxony is a “fault-saturated construct”.

In contrast, Gerd Althoff tried to save Widukind as a source. According to Althoff, the freedom to change and thus also to deform was very limited as soon as it came to matters in which those in power had a current interest. Any modifications were therefore not possible. The expectations of the powerful also led to whitewashing and idealizations. On the other hand, the numerous anecdotes, dreams and visions that are often mentioned in Ottonian historiography have an argumentative core with which to criticize the powerful. According to Althoff, the history of Saxony had the character of a manual. After the death of Archbishop Wilhelm von Mainz in 968, Mathilde was the only representative of the Ottonenhaus north of the Alps. The Saxon history was supposed to provide the young imperial daughter Mathilde with contemporary historical information (Saxon self-image, achievements of the Ottonian kings, knowledge of the disputes between the king and the great ). If one were to assume the character of a prince mirror for the history of Saxony, then for Althoff the focus of the work and the omissions (Italian policy and mission and church policy) for Mathilde's areas of responsibility after 968 would be explained. Althoff's conclusion is therefore: “The key witness is trustworthy.” Althoff was also able to confirm Widukind's most important statements from new research findings, such as those on memorial tradition and his “rules of the game for medieval conflict management”.

Hagen Keller reported fundamental reservations about being able to transfer the research results obtained from ethnology on oral techniques of transmission in almost written cultures to an author like Widukind, who was literarily educated. Keller pointed out that in 967/68 there were still contemporary witnesses who had witnessed the events from the time of Henry I. Her memory could not be told past.

To this day it remains controversial whether “in the history of Saxony the past was filled with content imaginatively” or a “well thought-out overall concept”.

Text output

Critical Edition

  • Paul Hirsch , Hans-Eberhard Lohmann (ed.): Widukindi monachi Corbeiensis rerum gestarum Saxonicarum libri tres (= MGH Scriptores rerum Germanicarum in usum scholarum separately in editi. Volume 60). Hahn, Hanover 1935 ( digitized version ).

Translations

  • Albert Bauer, Reinhold Rau (ed.): The Saxon history of the Widukind von Korvei. (Latin / German). In: Sources for the history of the Saxon imperial period (= selected sources for the German history of the Middle Ages. Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gedächtnisausgabe. Volume 8). 5th edition. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 2002, ISBN 978-3-15-007699-6 , pp. 1–183.
  • Ekkehardt Rotter, Bernd Schneidmüller (translator and publisher): Widukind von Corvey . Res gestae Saxonicae / The history of Saxony. Latin-German. Bibliographically supplemented edition. Reclam, Stuttgart 2011, ISBN 978-3-15-007699-6 .

literature

Monographs

  • Helmut Beumann : Widukind von Korvey. Studies on the historiography and the history of ideas of the 10th century (= publications of the Historical Commission for Westphalia. Historical Commission for Westphalia. Volume 10,3 = Treatises on Corveyer historiography. Volume 3). Böhlau, Weimar 1950 (basic study).
  • Franz Josef Schröder: Peoples and rulers of Eastern Europe in the worldview of Widukind von Korvei and Thietmars von Merseburg. Dissertation, Münster 1975.
  • Katharina Vaerst: Laus inimicorum or How do I tell the king? - Narrative structures of Ottonian historiography and their communication potential. Monsenstein and Vannerdat, Münster 2010, ISBN 978-3-8405-0012-1

Essays

  • Gerd Althoff : Widukind von Corvey. Key witness and challenge. In: Early Medieval Studies . 27 (1993), pp. 253-272 (also in: Staged rule. Historiography and political action in the Middle Ages. Darmstadt 2003, pp. 78-104).
  • Helmut Beumann : Historiographical conception and political goals of Widukind von Corvey. In: La storiografia altomedievale . Spoleto 1970, pp. 857-894.
  • Hagen Keller : Widukind's report on the Aachen election and coronation of Otto I. In: Early medieval studies. 29, pp. 390-453 (1995).
  • Johannes Laudage : Widukind von Corvey and German history. In: Ders: (Ed.): Of facts and fictions. Medieval histories and their critical appraisal. Böhlau. Cologne et al. 2003, ISBN 3-412-17202-2 , pp. 193-224.
  • Bernd Schneidmüller : Education and Politics. On the Saxon history of Widukind von Corvey. In: Mitteilungen des Mindener Geschichtsverein , year 53 (1981), pp. 143–150.
  • Bernd Schneidmüller : Widukind von Corvey, Richer von Reims and the change in political consciousness in the 10th century. In: Carlrichard Brühl, Bernd Schneidmüller (Eds.): Contributions to the medieval formation of empires and nations in Germany and France (= historical journal. Supplements NF 24). Oldenbourg, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-486-64422-X , pp. 83-102.
  • Helmut Vester: Widukind von Korvei - an example of the history of Sallust's impact. In: Classical Classes. 21/1 (1978), pp. 5-23.
  • Gerd Althoff: Widukind von Corvey. A monk writes history in: Babette Ludowici (Ed.): Saxones , Theiss, Darmstadt 2019, pp. 360–363
  • Christian Heitzmann: Wikukinds Bibliothek in: Babette Ludowici (Ed.): Saxones , Theiss, Darmstadt 2019, pp. 364–365

Lexicons

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Helmut Beumann: Widukind von Korvey. Studies on historiography and the history of ideas of the 10th century. Weimar 1950, p. 3.
  2. ^ Matthias Springer: Article "Widukind von Corvey" In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. Vol. 33 (2006), pp. 586-592, here: p. 587.
  3. ↑ Johannes Laudage: Otto the Great: (912–973). A biography. Regensburg 2001, p. 12.
  4. ↑ Helmut Beumann: Widukind von Korvey. Studies on historiography and the history of ideas of the 10th century . Weimar 1950, p. 94 ff. And p. 97 ff. Helmut Vester: Widukind von Korvei - an example of the history of Sallust's impact. In: Altsprachlicher Studium 21/1 (1978), pp. 5–23.
  5. ↑ Hagen Keller: Machabaeorum pugnae. On the importance of a biblical model in Widukind's interpretation of Ottonian kingship. In: Hagen Keller, Nikolaus Staubach (ed.): Iconologia Sacra. Myth, Visual Art and Poetry in the Religious and Social History of Ancient Europe. Festschrift for Karl Hauck on his 75th birthday. Berlin u. a. 1994, pp. 417-437, here: p. 421.
  6. ^ Edmund E. Stengel: The time of origin of the "Res gestae Saxonicae" and the idea of ​​Emperor Widukind von Korvei. In the S. (Ed.): Corona quernea. Festgabe offered to Karl Strecker for his 80th birthday. Stuttgart 1941, pp. 136-158.
  7. ↑ Johannes Laudage: Otto the Great: (912–973). A biography. Regensburg 2001, p. 102 f.
  8. ↑ On the reception of Helmut Beumann's work, cf. Gerd Althoff: Widukind von Corvey. Key witness and challenge. In: Ders .: Staged rule. Historiography and Political Action in the Middle Ages. Darmstadt 2003, pp. 78-104, here: pp. 81-83.
  9. ↑ Helmut Beumann: Widukind von Korvey. Studies on historiography and the history of ideas of the 10th century. Weimar 1950, p. IX.
  10. ↑ The term comes from Wilhelm Gundlach: Heldenlieder der Deutschen Kaiserzeit. Innsbruck 1894, p. 112.
  11. ↑ Johannes Fried: The Ascension of Henry I as King. Memory, Orality and Formation of Tradition in the 10th Century. In: Michael Borgolte (Ed.): Medieval research after the turn. Munich 1995, pp. 267-318, here: p. 274.
  12. ↑ Johannes Fried: The Ascension of Henry I as King. Memory, Orality and Formation of Tradition in the 10th Century. In: Michael Borgolte (Ed.): Medieval research after the turn. Munich 1995, pp. 267-318, here: p. 277.
  13. ↑ Johannes Fried: The Ascension of Henry I as King. Memory, Orality and Formation of Tradition in the 10th Century. In: Michael Borgolte (Ed.): Medieval research after the turn. Munich 1995, pp. 267-318, here: p. 303.
  14. ↑ Gerd Althoff: Historiography in an oral society. The example of the 10th century. In: Ders .: Staged rule. Historiography and Political Action in the Middle Ages. Darmstadt 2003, pp. 105–125, here: p. 108 (first published in: Bernd Schneidmüller, Stefan Weinfurter (eds.): Ottonische Neuanfänge. Symposium on the exhibition "Otto the Great, Magdeburg and Europe" . Mainz 2001, p. 151 –169, here: p. 153).
  15. ↑ Gerd Althoff: Historiography in an oral society. The example of the 10th century. In: Ders .: Staged rule. Historiography and Political Action in the Middle Ages. Darmstadt 2003, pp. 105–125, here: p. 120 (first published in: Bernd Schneidmüller, Stefan Weinfurter (eds.): Ottonische Neuanfänge. Symposium on the exhibition “Otto the Great, Magdeburg and Europe” . Mainz 2001, p. 151 –169, here: p. 163).
  16. ↑ Gerd Althoff: Widukind von Corvey. Key witness and challenge. In: Ders .: Staged rule. Historiography and Political Action in the Middle Ages . Darmstadt 2003, pp. 78-104, here: p. 104 (first published in: Frühmittelalterliche Studien . Vol. 27, 1993, pp. 253-272, here: p. 272).
  17. ^ Hagen Keller: Widukinds report on the Aachen election and coronation of Otto I. In: Ottonische Königsherrschaft. Organization and legitimation of royal power. Darmstadt 2002, pp. 91–130, here: p. 101 (first publication in: Frühmittelalterliche Studien . Vol. 29, 1995, pp. 390–453).
  18. ^ Hagen Keller: Widukinds report on the Aachen election and coronation of Otto I. In: Ottonische Königsherrschaft. Organization and legitimation of royal power . Darmstadt 2002, pp. 91–130, here: p. 102, note 95 (first published in: Frühmittelalterliche Studien . Vol. 29, 1995, pp. 390–453).
  19. ↑ Gerd Althoff: Widukind von Corvey. In: Lexicon of the Middle Ages. Vol. 9, Munich 1998, Col. 76-78.
  20. ^ Hagen Keller: Widukinds report on the Aachen election and coronation of Otto I. In: Ottonische Königsherrschaft. Organization and legitimation of royal power. Darmstadt 2002, pp. 91–130, here: p. 97 (first published in: Frühmittelalterliche Studien. Vol. 29 (1995), pp. 390–453.)
personal data
SURNAME Widukind by Corvey
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wittekind; Wittekindi; Wittechindus Corbeiensis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION old Saxon historian; monk
DATE OF BIRTH around 925 or between 933 and 935
DATE OF DEATH February 3 after 973
Place of death Corvey