Nithard
The illegitimate son of Charlemagne's daughter Bertha and the poet and chancellor Angilbert, Nithard grew up at court and became counselor to Charles the Bald, the youngest son of Louis the Pious. In 841 he fought in the Battle of Fontenoy, and Charles requested that he write an account of recent events. The finished product was the Historiae or De dissensionibus filiorum Ludovici pii ("On the Dissensions of the Sons of Louis the Pious"), a four-volume description of troubles among Louis's sons in the years 840 to 843.
Although Nithard's Historiae was designed to establish the right of Charles to rule the Franks, he appears to have reported fully and completely those events he witnessed himself. In spite of its partiality, Nithard's history remains a significant source of information about the events of the mid-ninth century.
Important Dates
Died: June 14, 844
On the Web
Biographical
Catholic Encyclopedia: Nithard
Very brief bio by Patricius Schlager.
Primary Sources
Saint Boniface Advises Nithard to Continue His Studies (A.D. 716-19)
Translation of Boniface's letter at the Catholic Forum.
In Print
The link below will take you to a site where you can compare prices at booksellers across the web. More in-depth info about the book may be found by clicking on to the book's page at one of the online merchants.
The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe
by Pierre Riché; translated by Michael Idomir Allen
Related Resources
The Carolingian Empire
An index of sites concerning the predecessors and successors of Charlemagne and the empire they built.Early Europe
Directory of sites that offer useful resources for the study of Europe in Late Antiquty, or shortly after the fall of Rome.
|
|
|
Index |
or Role in Society |
Index |
|
Who's Who |
|
in Who's Who |
|
|