ORB Online LibraryViking Normandy
Dudo of St. Quentin's Gesta Normannorum
An English Translation
Editor: Felice Lifshitz A. INTRODUCTION
B. THE TRANSCRIPTION
The chapter divisions follow the Fécamp (Berlin) manuscript, whose foliations are given in lieu of page numbers. Chapter files have been numbered and named by the transcriber/translator in a Latin-English pair to permit ordered mounting and reading on ORB. The content descriptions which follow below were also devised by the transcriber/translator. The chapters marked with an asterisk (*) have been cast in the translation as detailed reflections of the Latin text, in order to give a greater feeling for the "original" to those who will not read the Latin transcriptions. The chapters marked with two asterices (**) are almost exact reflections of the Latin text, but include some concessions to modern English punctuation, etc. The unmarked chapters have been even more thoroughly "Englished" and "modernized."
TABLE OF CONTENTS - Latin Versions only The chapter divisions follow the Fécamp (Berlin) manuscript, whose foliations are given in lieu of page numbers. Chapter files have been numbered and named by the transcriber/translator in a Latin-English pair to permit ordered mounting and reading on ORB. The content descriptions which follow below were also devised by the transcriber/translator. The chapters marked with an asterisk (*) have been cast in the translation as detailed reflections of the Latin text, in order to give a greater feeling for the "original" to those who will not read the Latin transcriptions. The chapters marked with two asterices (**) are almost exact reflections of the Latin text, but include some concessions to modern English punctuation, etc. The unmarked chapters have been even more thoroughly "Englished" and "modernized."
*[1] Praising and Excusatory Epistle to Bishop Adalbero of Laon: Dudo describes his commission to undertake the work, as well as his own emotional state, then praises his subjects and his sources of inspiration [Folios 1v - 8v] Epistle]
[2] A band of evil marauders, led by Anstign, wreaks havoc in Francia and Italy [Folios 8v - 12v = File(s) 2(L)-Vikings]
[3] Anstign becomes the fidelis of the king of the Western Franks [Folios 12v - 13r = File(s) 3(L)-Franks]
[4] Prefatory Verses: Dudo once again describes his turbulent, anxious emotional state and praises his subjects [Folios 13r - 14v = File(s) 4(L)-Icarus]
[5] Rollo is expelled from his native Dacia by an evil king [Folios 14v - 17r = File(s) 5(L)-Dacia]
[6] Rollo and his followers plunder among the Angles [Folios 17r - 17v = File(s) 6(L)-Angli]
[7] Rollo allies with king Alstem of East Anglia, after a prophetic dream-vision foretells the Dacian's future prosperity in Francia [Folios 17v - 19r = File(s) 7(L)-Vision]
[8] Rollo departs for Francia and is beset by a storm at sea [Folios 19r - 19v = File(s) 8(L)-Francia]
*[9] Having crossed the Channel, Rollo is attacked by Frisians and others but himself exercises great mercy [Folios 19v - 21r = File(s) 9(L)-Radbod]
[10] Rollo sees the town of Rouen and determines to settle there in fulfillment of his dream-vision [Folios 21r - 21v = File(s) 10(L)-Rouen]
[11] Franks, Burgundians and Aquitanians cannot prevent Rollo and his followers from conquering the future Normandy [Folios 21v - 26r = File(s) 11(L)-Conquest]
[12] The king of the Western Franks offers his daughter to Rollo and confirms the latter's possession of the conquered territories and of Brittany, as Rollo adopts the Christian religion [Folios 26r - 29v = File(s) 12(L)-Franco]
[13] Rollo is a harsh ruler and generous to local churches [Folios 29v - 32r = File(s) 13(L)-Reign]
[14] Prefatory Verses: Dudo praises God and faith [Folios 32v - 34r = File(s) 14(L)-Prologue]
*[15] William, Rollo's son by Popa of Bayeux, is pre-disposed to sanctity [Folios 34r - 34v = File(s) 15(L)-William]
*[16] Rollo's aged decrepitude forces his fideles to ask that he step down in favor of his son William [Folios 34v - 35r = File(s) 16(L)-Senility]
[17] Rollo transfers power over Normandy and Brittany to William, who must immediately face Breton rebels [Folios 35r - 36v = File(s) 17(L)-Bretons]
*[18] Having defeated the Bretons, William marries a Frankish woman and allies with the Frankish magnates Hugh and Herbert [Folios 36v - 37r = File(s) 18(L)-Rebels]
[19] A Norman magnate, Riulf, leads a rebellion against William [Folios 37r - 38r = File(s) 19(L)-Riculf]
[20] William is convinced by Bernard the Dacian not to flee to Francia [Folios 38r - 39r = File(s) 20(L)-Senlis]
**[21] William crushes the Norman rebels and has a son by Sprota [Folios 39r - 39v = File(s) 21(L)-Son]
*[22] William's authority is accepted not only in Normandy, but also in Western Francia, where he establishes king Louis on the disputed royal throne [Folios 39v - 40v = File(s) 22(L)-Marriage]
[23] William saves king Louis from Frankish rebels and becomes godfather to the latter's son Lothar [Folios 40v - 42v = File(s) 23(L)-Henry]
[24] William and Louis take leave of one another [Folios 42v - 43r = File(s) 24(L)-Lothar]
[25] William receives divine instruction from abbot Martin of Jumièges [Folios 43r - 43v = File(s) 25(L)-Martin]
[26] William comes to the aid of Herluin, who has been dispossessed of Montreuil by Arnulf of Flanders [Folios 43v - 46r = File(s) 26(L)-Herluin]
[27] Arnulf has William assassinated [Folios 46r - 47r = File(s) 27(L)-Arnulf]
[28] Prefatory Verses: Dudo again praises his subjects and his sources of inspiration, and describes his anxious mental state [Folios 47r - 49v = File(s) 28(L)-Clio]
[29] Examples of good behavior are offered for emulation [Folios 49v - 50r = File(s) 29(L)-Preface]
**[30] A son, Richard, is born to William during the Breton rebellion [Folios 50r - 50v = File(s) 30(L)-Baptism]
[31] Richard is accepted by the leading Norman and Breton magnates as William's heir [Folios 50v - 51r = File(s) 31(L)-Heir]
[32] Richard is raised at Bayeux and associated in power with William [Folios 51r - 51v = File(s) 32(L)-Youth]
[33] After the assassination of William, Richard becomes sole duke [Folios 51v - 52v = File(s) 33(L)-Duke]
[34] King Louis tries to take young Richard prisoner, but confirms him in his possession of William's lands [Folios 52v - 54r = File(s) 34(L)-Captive]
[35] Encouraged by Arnulf of Flanders, king Louis does take Richard prisoner [Folios 54r - 54v = File(s) 35(L)-Louis]
[36] Richard's tutor, Osmund, brings the boy secretly to Bernard of Senlis, Richard's uncle [Folios 55r - 55v = File(s) 36(L)-Osmund]
**[37] Bernard of Senlis secures Hugh the Great's help for Richard [Folios 55v - 56r = File(s) 37(L)-Bernard]
[38] As Louis and Arnulf ally against Richard, Hugh reneges on his promise and the two Bernards (of Senlis and the Dacian) must save Richard [Folios 56v - 57r = File(s) 38(L)-Intrigue]
[39] A new anti-Richard alliance of Louis and Hugh the Great is broken by Bernard of Senlis, but Louis nevertheless captures Rouen [Folios 57r - 59v = File(s) 39(L)-Hugh]
[40] The two Bernards enlist the aid of Richard's relative, king Aigrold of Dacia, against king Louis [Folios 59v - 61v = File(s) 40(L)-Haigrold]
[41] Aigrold defeats Louis, who is captured and imprisoned at Rouen [Folios 61v - 63r = File(s) 41(L)-Defeat]
[42] Queen Gerberga of the Western Franks negotiates the release of Louis, and Richard is confirmed once more in his possession of William's lands [Folios 63r - 64r = File(s) 42(L)-Gerberga]
[43] Richard flourishes and allies with Hugh the Great, while Arnulf and Louis enlist king Otto of the Saxons to their cause [Folios 64r - 68r = File(s) 43(L)-Challenge]
[44] Otto attacks Rouen and Paris [Folios 68r - 68v = File(s) 44(L)-Otto]
[45] Richard and his followers defeat Otto's forces [Folios 68v - 71r = File(s) 45(L)-Saxons]
[46] Praise for Richard [Folios 71r - 72v = File(s) 46(L)-Praise]
[47] Hugh the Great having died, Richard marries his daughter [Folios 72v - 73v = File(s) 47(L)-Victory]
[48] King Louis having died, Queen Gerberga and her son Lothar are persuaded by Tetbold of Chartres to attack Richard [Folios 73v - 74v = File(s) 48(L)-Tetbold]
[49] Gerberga fails to entrap Richard [Folios 74v - 75v = File(s) 49(L)-Bruno]
[50] Praise for Richard [Folios 75v - 76r = File(s) 50(L)-Richard]
[51] Lothar and Tetbold try to ensnare Richard [Folios 76r - 76v = File(s) 51(L)-Snare]
[52] Richard is rescued by God from a unified attack by all his enemies [Folios 76v - 78r = File(s) 52(L)-Axis]
[53] Tetbold incites Lothar to attack Evreux, a city ruled by Richard [Folios 78r - 78v = File(s) 53(L)-Evreux]
[54] Richard defeats Tetbold in battle [Folios 78v - 79v = File(s) 54(L)-Climax]
[55] Richard is merciful to Tetbold's crushed forces [Folio 79v = File(s) 55(L)-Apotheosis]
[56] With the help of his non-Christian Dacian allies, Richard brings Tetbold onto his own side [Folios 79v - 82r = File(s) 56(L)-Pagans]
[57] Richard converts the Dacians to Christianity [Folios 82r - 87r = File(s) 57(L)-Vindication]
[58] His first wife having died, Richard remarries and enlarges the church at Fécamp, site of the ducal residence [Folios 87r - 89v = File(s) 58(L)-Gunnor]
[59] Praise for Richard's blessed character [Folios 89v - 91v = File(s) 59(L)-Beatus]
[60] Richard, having designated his son Richard as his heir, dies and is buried at Fécamp [Folios 91v - 94r = File(s) 60(L)-Funeral] C. THE TRANSLATION
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