Abbo Cernuus ("the Crooked"), Abbo Parisiensis, or Abbo of Saint-Germain (c. 850 – c. 923) was a NeustrianBenedictine monk and poet of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. He was born about the middle of the ninth century.
Abbo was present at the Siege of Paris by the Vikings in 885–886. He was the only eyewitness who wrote a description of it, in Latin verse, with an account of subsequent events to 896, the so-called De bellis Parisiacæ urbis or Bella Parisiacæ urbis ("Wars of the City of Paris"). Abbo also left some sermons for the instruction of clerics in Paris and Poitiers (Patrologia Latina, CXXXII).
Though coming from one of the most prominent ecclesiastical centres of ninth-century Francia, the monk Abbo is unusually obscure for an individual responsible for a source such as the De bellis.[1] The little that is known about him is gleaned from this work, with very little corroboratory evidence from elsewhere. Though he was a Neustrian, there is no information regarding his political agenda or affiliations, as he contradicts his own "views" throughout the work. As a result, historians have often speculated that the De bellis was "refined" at a later date by a separate editor.
Abbo can be viewed as a source for the collapse of Carolingian hegemony in 887–88. He regarded Odo as the legitimate successor of Charles the Fat in West Francia after Charles' death (888) and does not seem to have regarded the deposition of East Francia as binding on West Francia.[2] Abbo also regards the empire as Frankish and he himself, though a Neustrian and Parisian, as Frankish as well. He does not present a united West Francia as a more basic political unit than the empire and is therefore seen by some historians as refuting the hypothesis that regional identities led to the break-up of the empire within Abbo's lifetime.[3]
In 921, Abbo published some of his sermons at the insistence of Bishop Fulrad of Paris, who held office from 921 - 927. [4] His publications under Fulrad are the last indications of Abbo in French records, causing ambiguity about the year of his death. His death has no definitive date, though it has been assumed to be sometime after 922, given his relationship with Fulrad.
De bellis Parisiacæ urbis
The Wars of the City of Paris was written in the 890s. The poem narrates events taking place over an eleven-year period from 885 to 896. It was first composed around 890 and later extended up to 896. The entire poem consists of 1,393 lines in three books: 660 lines in the first book, 618 in the second, and 115 in the third. Throughout the poem Abbo employs a dactylichexameter, though with the occasional fault. This metre helps to underpin the epic nature of the poem, a conscious aim of Abbo.[4] The purpose of the work was both scholarly and hortative, warning future generations of the Viking menace.[5] Its polemic literary style (sometimes called the "hermeneutic style") is typical of its period and place, though it is studded with "obscure Grecisms."[5] It has usually received negative criticism from historians, or even been viewed as a contemporary parody of the hermeneutic style.[5]
A detailed and political work, it has been underused by historians of the late Carolingians.[6] It may have been written at the request or insistence of Odo of France, who appears as the hero and "future king" (rex futurus) in the poem.[2] The poet views Odo through the lens of the 890s. He praises Odo as "the noblest" of the city of Paris, more so than Askericus or Joscelin.[2] Abbo also presents the Emperor Charles III, whom he refers to as basileus Francorum ("emperor of the Franks"), in a positive light.[7] The poem stresses the magnitude and diversity of the united Frankish empire. Significantly, he places no blame on the emperor for the siege of Paris nor for the subsequent harrying of Burgundy, which he actually considered to be appropriate for the Burgundians' refusal to aid the city.[8] Abbo even warns the Neustrians not to use "the purple to keep warm", a reference to over-reliance on imperial protection, purple being an imperial colour.[9] The term basileus is likewise a distinctly Byzantine term.
Overall the De bellis seems less concerned with historical accuracy than with theology, preferring to ask why Paris was besieged by the Vikings and to speculate on the spiritual battle that "must" have occurred. Since this theme is most prominent in Book III, it has been treated with neglect by historians of the period. Henri Waquet even chose to omit it from his edition of the work entirely.[10]
ed. and tr. Nirmal Dass, Viking Attacks on Paris: The "Bella Parisiacae Urbis" of Abbo of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Dallas Medieval Texts and Translations 7. Leuven: Peeters, 2007.
ed. and tr. Anton Pauels, Abbo von Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Bella Parisiacae Urbis, Buch I. Frankfurt, 1984. With German translation.
ed. Henri Waquet, Abbon. Le siège de Paris par les Normands. Poème du IXe siècle. Paris, 1942 (first edition), 1964 (second edition, with French translation). This edition omits the Third Book.
ed. Paul von Winterfeld, Abbonis Bella Parisiacae Urbis. MGH Poetae Latini aevi Carolini IV. Berlin 1899. 72–122.
Secondary sources
Adams, Anthony; Rigg, A.G. (2004). "A Verse Translation of Abbo of St. Germain's Bella Parisiacae urbis". Journal of Medieval Latin. 14: 1–68. doi:10.1484/J.JML.2.304214.
MacLean, Simon. Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century: Charles the Fat and the end of the Carolingian Empire. Cambridge University Press: 2003.
Further reading
Lendinara, Patrizia. "The Third Book of the Bella Parisiacae Urbis by Abbo of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and its Old English gloss." Anglo-Saxon England 15 (1986): 73–89.
External links
Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes
March 28, 2023
abbo, cernuus, crooked, abbo, parisiensis, abbo, saint, germain, neustrian, benedictine, monk, poet, abbey, saint, germain, prés, paris, born, about, middle, ninth, century, abbo, present, siege, paris, vikings, only, eyewitness, wrote, description, latin, ver. Abbo Cernuus the Crooked Abbo Parisiensis or Abbo of Saint Germain c 850 c 923 was a Neustrian Benedictine monk and poet of the Abbey of Saint Germain des Pres in Paris He was born about the middle of the ninth century Abbo was present at the Siege of Paris by the Vikings in 885 886 He was the only eyewitness who wrote a description of it in Latin verse with an account of subsequent events to 896 the so called De bellis Parisiacae urbis or Bella Parisiacae urbis Wars of the City of Paris Abbo also left some sermons for the instruction of clerics in Paris and Poitiers Patrologia Latina CXXXII Contents 1 Life 2 De bellis Parisiacae urbis 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Primary sources 3 3 Secondary sources 3 4 Further reading 4 External linksLife EditThough coming from one of the most prominent ecclesiastical centres of ninth century Francia the monk Abbo is unusually obscure for an individual responsible for a source such as the De bellis 1 The little that is known about him is gleaned from this work with very little corroboratory evidence from elsewhere Though he was a Neustrian there is no information regarding his political agenda or affiliations as he contradicts his own views throughout the work As a result historians have often speculated that the De bellis was refined at a later date by a separate editor Abbo can be viewed as a source for the collapse of Carolingian hegemony in 887 88 He regarded Odo as the legitimate successor of Charles the Fat in West Francia after Charles death 888 and does not seem to have regarded the deposition of East Francia as binding on West Francia 2 Abbo also regards the empire as Frankish and he himself though a Neustrian and Parisian as Frankish as well He does not present a united West Francia as a more basic political unit than the empire and is therefore seen by some historians as refuting the hypothesis that regional identities led to the break up of the empire within Abbo s lifetime 3 In 921 Abbo published some of his sermons at the insistence of Bishop Fulrad of Paris who held office from 921 927 4 His publications under Fulrad are the last indications of Abbo in French records causing ambiguity about the year of his death His death has no definitive date though it has been assumed to be sometime after 922 given his relationship with Fulrad De bellis Parisiacae urbis EditThe Wars of the City of Paris was written in the 890s The poem narrates events taking place over an eleven year period from 885 to 896 It was first composed around 890 and later extended up to 896 The entire poem consists of 1 393 lines in three books 660 lines in the first book 618 in the second and 115 in the third Throughout the poem Abbo employs a dactylic hexameter though with the occasional fault This metre helps to underpin the epic nature of the poem a conscious aim of Abbo 4 The purpose of the work was both scholarly and hortative warning future generations of the Viking menace 5 Its polemic literary style sometimes called the hermeneutic style is typical of its period and place though it is studded with obscure Grecisms 5 It has usually received negative criticism from historians or even been viewed as a contemporary parody of the hermeneutic style 5 A detailed and political work it has been underused by historians of the late Carolingians 6 It may have been written at the request or insistence of Odo of France who appears as the hero and future king rex futurus in the poem 2 The poet views Odo through the lens of the 890s He praises Odo as the noblest of the city of Paris more so than Askericus or Joscelin 2 Abbo also presents the Emperor Charles III whom he refers to as basileus Francorum emperor of the Franks in a positive light 7 The poem stresses the magnitude and diversity of the united Frankish empire Significantly he places no blame on the emperor for the siege of Paris nor for the subsequent harrying of Burgundy which he actually considered to be appropriate for the Burgundians refusal to aid the city 8 Abbo even warns the Neustrians not to use the purple to keep warm a reference to over reliance on imperial protection purple being an imperial colour 9 The term basileus is likewise a distinctly Byzantine term Overall the De bellis seems less concerned with historical accuracy than with theology preferring to ask why Paris was besieged by the Vikings and to speculate on the spiritual battle that must have occurred Since this theme is most prominent in Book III it has been treated with neglect by historians of the period Henri Waquet even chose to omit it from his edition of the work entirely 10 References EditNotes Edit Dass 1 a b c MacLean 57 MacLean 64 a b Dass 2 a b c MacLean 55 MacLean 56 MacLean 58 MacLean 60 MacLean 59 Waquet 1 Primary sources Edit Abbo Bella Parisiacae Urbis ed and tr Nirmal Dass Viking Attacks on Paris The Bella Parisiacae Urbis of Abbo of Saint Germain des Pres Dallas Medieval Texts and Translations 7 Leuven Peeters 2007 1 ed and tr Anton Pauels Abbo von Saint Germain des Pres Bella Parisiacae Urbis Buch I Frankfurt 1984 With German translation ed Henri Waquet Abbon Le siege de Paris par les Normands Poeme du IXe siecle Paris 1942 first edition 1964 second edition with French translation This edition omits the Third Book ed Paul von Winterfeld Abbonis Bella Parisiacae Urbis MGH Poetae Latini aevi Carolini IV Berlin 1899 72 122 Secondary sources Edit Adams Anthony Rigg A G 2004 A Verse Translation of Abbo of St Germain s Bella Parisiacae urbis Journal of Medieval Latin 14 1 68 doi 10 1484 J JML 2 304214 MacLean Simon Kingship and Politics in the Late Ninth Century Charles the Fat and the end of the Carolingian Empire Cambridge University Press 2003 Further reading Edit Lendinara Patrizia The Third Book of the Bella Parisiacae Urbis by Abbo of Saint Germain des Pres and its Old English gloss Anglo Saxon England 15 1986 73 89 External links EditOpera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abbo Cernuus amp oldid 1144880801, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
