Very little is known of Thegan's life; he appears to have come from a noble Frankish family in the middle Rhine-Moselle region.[2] He may have been educated at Lorsch.[3] All that is certain is that by 825 he was auxiliary bishop of Trier[4] and probably praepositus of the monastery of St. Cassius in Bonn. He was also a warm friend of Walafrid Strabo, who was the earliest editor of Thegan's Gesta and divided it into chapters, just as he did with Einhard's Vita Karoli. Walafrid also gave it the name by which it is known: Gesta et Laudes ("Deeds and Praise"), which he mentions in his prologue.[5]
Some poetry and a single letter from Thegan survive. This letter is written to one Hatto who was a count in the Rhine region of Kreuznach, and an important broker in the effort to reconcile Louis the Pious with his son Louis the German in the mid-830s.[6] This concern to promote accord between Louis and his son is similarly evident in the Gesta.
Thegan wrote his history of Louis the Pious, translated as "The Deeds of Emperor Louis," in 836-7. The text is a narrative in unpolished Latin, as judged by the standards of the day,[8] written with hortatory intent and based on personal knowledge and communication with friends. Prefaced by a brief prologue by Walafrid Strabo, the Gesta begins with an account of Saint Arnulf of Metz, describes the vicissitudes of the brothers of Louis and gives a more detailed account of Louis' reign during the years 814-835. The later narrative is probably a continuation by another author.[citation needed]
The account is clearly partisan. The merits of Louis himself are exalted, though his councillors and Louis' poor judgement in taking their advice, are denigrated, while the actions of Louis' son Lothair and of a number of bishops, especially Bishop Ebbo of Reims, are severely criticised.[9] So virulent is Thegan's depiction of Ebbo that Walafrid feels it necessary to make excuses for it in his short prologue.
Thegan's strong dislike for Ebbo has been attributed by most modern historians to Ebbo's low birth and his contribution to the rebellion which deposed Louis briefly. More recently, Tremp has suggested that Ebbo was making an attempt to reform the chorepiscopate and that this was an additional reason that he incurred Thegan's hatred.[10] Whatever the reason behind it, it is clear from the text that Thegan's dislike for Ebbo is of a very personal nature.
Dissemination
The text was not widely read during Thegan's lifetime but became far more popular during the reign of Charles the Bald. Rosamund McKitterick has suggested that this can be seen as part of the preoccupation of later Carolingian kings to construct a historical image for themselves.[11] Indeed, Thegan's text is most frequently found as part of manuscripts containing texts such as the Royal Frankish Annals, genealogies of the Carolingians and a history of the Trojans, and very often the Vita Hludovici of the anonymous author known as The Astronomer.
Modern editions
The Gesta has been translated into German by Ernst Tremp in the series Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptores in Rerum Germanicarum in usum Scholarum separatim editi. An English translation is available in the volume Carolingian Civilization: A reader by Paul Dutton.
Notes
^Noble, Thomas F.X., ed. "Charlemagne and Louis the Pious: the lives by Einhard, Notker, Ermoldus, Thegan, and the Astronomer". Penn State University Press.
^Kathleen Mitchell, reviewing Tremp 1988 in Speculum65.4 (October 1990:1066). Walafrid also feels it necessary to excuse the poor scholarship in his prologue, claiming that Thegan has been occupied with other ecclesiastical matters. MGH SS rer. Germ. 64 'Walahfridi Prologus' 11-12.
^Thegan refers to Ebbo in terms such as "vile peasant" and includes an extended tirade directed at Ebbo in ch. 44. Dutton, p. 171.
^In both Carolingian Culture (1994) and History and Memory in the Carolingian World (2004) p. 272
Further reading
Dutton, P. (2004). Carolingian civilization : a reader. Ontario: Broadview Press. ISBN1-55111-492-5.
Innes, M. (2002). ""He never even allowed his white teeth to be bared in laughter" : the politics of humour in the Carolingian Renaissance". In G.Halsall (ed.). Humour, history and politics in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-81116-3.
McKitterick, R. (1994). Carolingian Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 209–211. ISBN978-0-521-40586-7.
Mitchell, K.; Tremp, Ernst (1990). "Review of Studien zu den Gesta Hludowici Imperatoris des Trierer Chorbischofs Thegan by Ernst Tremp". Speculum. Medieval Academy of America. 65 (4): 1065–1066. doi:10.2307/2863638. JSTOR 2863638.
Tremp, E. (1988). Studien zu den Gesta Hludowici imperatoris des Trierer Chorbischofs Thegan (in German). Hannover: Hahn. ISBN3-7752-5154-5.
Tremp, E. (1990). "Thegan und Astronomus, die beiden Geschichtsschreiber Ludwigs des Frommen". In R. Collins (ed.). Charlemagne's Heir. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN0-19-821994-6.
Tremp, E. (1995). Thegan. Das Leben Kaiser Ludwigs ; Astronomus ; herausgegeben und übersetzt (in German). Hannover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung. ISBN3-7752-5352-1.
External links
"Vita Ludovici imperatoris" in MGH Latin with German translation
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Thegan (Degan) of Treves". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Opera Omnia by Migne Patristica Latina with analytical indexes Latin text without Walafrid's prologue
Vita Hludowici imperatoris Another Latin text without Walafrid's prologue
January 30, 2023
thegan, trier, degan, treves, before, frankish, roman, catholic, prelate, author, gesta, hludowici, imperatoris, which, principal, source, life, holy, roman, emperor, louis, pious, successor, charlemagne, contents, biography, gesta, hludowici, imperatoris, dis. Thegan of Trier or Degan of Treves before 800 1 ca 850 was a Frankish Roman Catholic prelate and the author of Gesta Hludowici imperatoris which is a principal source for the life of the Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious the son and successor of Charlemagne Contents 1 Biography 2 Gesta Hludowici Imperatoris 3 Dissemination 4 Modern editions 5 Notes 6 Further reading 7 External linksBiography EditVery little is known of Thegan s life he appears to have come from a noble Frankish family in the middle Rhine Moselle region 2 He may have been educated at Lorsch 3 All that is certain is that by 825 he was auxiliary bishop of Trier 4 and probably praepositus of the monastery of St Cassius in Bonn He was also a warm friend of Walafrid Strabo who was the earliest editor of Thegan s Gesta and divided it into chapters just as he did with Einhard s Vita Karoli Walafrid also gave it the name by which it is known Gesta et Laudes Deeds and Praise which he mentions in his prologue 5 Some poetry and a single letter from Thegan survive This letter is written to one Hatto who was a count in the Rhine region of Kreuznach and an important broker in the effort to reconcile Louis the Pious with his son Louis the German in the mid 830s 6 This concern to promote accord between Louis and his son is similarly evident in the Gesta Thegan died between 848 and 853 7 Gesta Hludowici Imperatoris EditThegan wrote his history of Louis the Pious translated as The Deeds of Emperor Louis in 836 7 The text is a narrative in unpolished Latin as judged by the standards of the day 8 written with hortatory intent and based on personal knowledge and communication with friends Prefaced by a brief prologue by Walafrid Strabo the Gesta begins with an account of Saint Arnulf of Metz describes the vicissitudes of the brothers of Louis and gives a more detailed account of Louis reign during the years 814 835 The later narrative is probably a continuation by another author citation needed The account is clearly partisan The merits of Louis himself are exalted though his councillors and Louis poor judgement in taking their advice are denigrated while the actions of Louis son Lothair and of a number of bishops especially Bishop Ebbo of Reims are severely criticised 9 So virulent is Thegan s depiction of Ebbo that Walafrid feels it necessary to make excuses for it in his short prologue Thegan s strong dislike for Ebbo has been attributed by most modern historians to Ebbo s low birth and his contribution to the rebellion which deposed Louis briefly More recently Tremp has suggested that Ebbo was making an attempt to reform the chorepiscopate and that this was an additional reason that he incurred Thegan s hatred 10 Whatever the reason behind it it is clear from the text that Thegan s dislike for Ebbo is of a very personal nature Dissemination EditThe text was not widely read during Thegan s lifetime but became far more popular during the reign of Charles the Bald Rosamund McKitterick has suggested that this can be seen as part of the preoccupation of later Carolingian kings to construct a historical image for themselves 11 Indeed Thegan s text is most frequently found as part of manuscripts containing texts such as the Royal Frankish Annals genealogies of the Carolingians and a history of the Trojans and very often the Vita Hludovici of the anonymous author known as The Astronomer Modern editions EditThe Gesta has been translated into German by Ernst Tremp in the series Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptores in Rerum Germanicarum in usum Scholarum separatim editi An English translation is available in the volume Carolingian Civilization A reader by Paul Dutton Notes Edit Noble Thomas F X ed Charlemagne and Louis the Pious the lives by Einhard Notker Ermoldus Thegan and the Astronomer Penn State University Press Tremp 1988 Noble Noble MGH SS rer Germ 64 Walahfridi Prologus 14 Innes M State and Society in the Early Middle Ages Cambridge 2000 p 207 Noble Kathleen Mitchell reviewing Tremp 1988 in Speculum 65 4 October 1990 1066 Walafrid also feels it necessary to excuse the poor scholarship in his prologue claiming that Thegan has been occupied with other ecclesiastical matters MGH SS rer Germ 64 Walahfridi Prologus 11 12 Thegan refers to Ebbo in terms such as vile peasant and includes an extended tirade directed at Ebbo in ch 44 Dutton p 171 Tremp 1995 In both Carolingian Culture 1994 and History and Memory in the Carolingian World 2004 p 272Further reading EditDutton P 2004 Carolingian civilization a reader Ontario Broadview Press ISBN 1 55111 492 5 Innes M 2002 He never even allowed his white teeth to be bared in laughter the politics of humour in the Carolingian Renaissance In G Halsall ed Humour history and politics in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 81116 3 McKitterick R 1994 Carolingian Culture Cambridge Cambridge University Press pp 209 211 ISBN 978 0 521 40586 7 Mitchell K Tremp Ernst 1990 Review of Studien zu den Gesta Hludowici Imperatoris des Trierer Chorbischofs Thegan by Ernst Tremp Speculum Medieval Academy of America 65 4 1065 1066 doi 10 2307 2863638 JSTOR 2863638 Tremp E 1988 Studien zu den Gesta Hludowici imperatoris des Trierer Chorbischofs Thegan in German Hannover Hahn ISBN 3 7752 5154 5 Tremp E 1990 Thegan und Astronomus die beiden Geschichtsschreiber Ludwigs des Frommen In R Collins ed Charlemagne s Heir Oxford Clarendon Press ISBN 0 19 821994 6 Tremp E 1995 Thegan Das Leben Kaiser Ludwigs Astronomus herausgegeben und ubersetzt in German Hannover Hahnsche Buchhandlung ISBN 3 7752 5352 1 External links Edit Vita Ludovici imperatoris in MGH Latin with German translation Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Thegan Degan of Treves Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Opera Omnia by Migne Patristica Latina with analytical indexes Latin text without Walafrid s prologue Vita Hludowici imperatoris Another Latin text without Walafrid s prologue 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