Gesta Adalberonis
Encyclopedia
The Gesta Adalberonis or Gesta Alberonis ("Deeds of Albero") is a biography of Adalbero, Archbishop of Trier
(1131–52), written in medieval Latin
prose by Balderic of Florennes. There is also a Gesta Alberonis metrica anonyma, an anonymous biography of Albero's life down to 1145, written in hexameter
s.
Balderic was born in Florennes
and became a scholar in Paris
, where he first met Albero in 1147. The archbishop invited him to come head the school at the cathedral of Trier
, and he later served as provost of the college of Saint Simeon housed in the Porta Nigra
. He wrote his life of Albero shortly after the latter's death. He himself disappears from the record after 1163 and presumably died around that time. He was praised for his scholarlship by Wibald
.
The Gesta’s account of Albero's youth is mostly legendary, but his years as bishop are reliably covered, especially those portions describing that to which Baleric was an eyewitness. The work is biography and, although the author heeps praise on the subject, it is not hagiography
.
Albero de Montreuil
Albero de Montreuil was Archbishop of Trier from 1131 to 1152. He is the subject of the Gesta Alberonis.Albero was born near Toul, in Lorraine. After acquiring some dignities in the churches of Toul and Verdun, he was made Archdeacon and Provost of St. Arnulf at Metz...
(1131–52), written in medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...
prose by Balderic of Florennes. There is also a Gesta Alberonis metrica anonyma, an anonymous biography of Albero's life down to 1145, written in hexameter
Hexameter
Hexameter is a metrical line of verse consisting of six feet. It was the standard epic metre in classical Greek and Latin literature, such as in the Iliad and Aeneid. Its use in other genres of composition include Horace's satires, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to Greek mythology, hexameter...
s.
Balderic was born in Florennes
Florennes
Florennes is a Walloon municipality located in Belgium in the province of Namur. On January 1, 2006 Florennes had a total population of 10,754...
and became a scholar in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he first met Albero in 1147. The archbishop invited him to come head the school at the cathedral of Trier
Cathedral of Trier
The Cathedral of Saint Peter is a church in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the oldest cathedral in the country. The edifice is notable for its extremely long life span under multiple different eras each contributing some elements to its design, including the center of the main chapel...
, and he later served as provost of the college of Saint Simeon housed in the Porta Nigra
Porta Nigra
The Porta Nigra is a large Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps and has been designated a World Heritage Site....
. He wrote his life of Albero shortly after the latter's death. He himself disappears from the record after 1163 and presumably died around that time. He was praised for his scholarlship by Wibald
Wibald
Wibald was a 12th century Abbot of Stavelot and Malmedy, both in present-day Belgium, and of Corvey in Germany.-Biography:...
.
The Gesta’s account of Albero's youth is mostly legendary, but his years as bishop are reliably covered, especially those portions describing that to which Baleric was an eyewitness. The work is biography and, although the author heeps praise on the subject, it is not hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
.
Sources
- Balderic [Baldericus], "Gesta Alberonis archiepiscopi Trevirorum", Monumenta Germaniae HistoricaMonumenta Germaniae HistoricaThe Monumenta Germaniae Historica is a comprehensive series of carefully edited and published sources for the study of German history from the end of the Roman Empire to 1500.The society sponsoring the series was established by the Prussian reformer Heinrich Friedrich Karl Freiherr vom...
, Scriptores, VIII, 243–67. - Balderic [Balderich], A Warrior Bishop of the Twelfth Century: The Deeds of Albero of Trier, Brian A. Pavlac, trans. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval StudiesPontifical Institute of Mediaeval StudiesThe Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies is a research institute in the University of Toronto that is dedicated to advanced studies in the culture of the Middle Ages....
, 2008.