Hariulf’S History of St Riquier

This is the first English translation of Hariulf's History of St Riquier, which describes the history of an important monastic community in northern France from its foundation in the seventh century until the closing years of the eleventh century. Writing in a period of intense religious and political change, Hariulf presents the history of his house as he would like it remembered, as a source of social and political stability and a centre of monastic excellence. Under the protection of its founder and patron, Richer, whose miracles recur throughout the history, Hariulf portrays his brothers in religion at work and worship. He recounts the support the community received from the emperor Charlemagne in building the great monastic church and his work is important for the description of the treasures, both material and spiritual, accumulated by the monks. In his pages we see the creation of a great monastic estate, the problems of maintaining it and the complexities of its management as experienced by a succession of abbots. The seizure in the tenth century of the relics of the community's patron and their recovery during the many conflicts that took place as the Carolingian empire collapsed reveal the political as well as the religious importance of relics. Hariulf's is a long and sweeping narrative with a cast of many characters; this new translation offers the opportunity to consider the work as an exercise in the writing of history, the creation and representation of the past, and how a community's history might be presented to foster a communal identity in a changed and changing society.