Sources: Oderic, Robert of Torigni, Suger and The Pilgrim's Guide

Question 1

Who was Oderic Vitalis’ hero?

Answer 1

Henry I- He ticked all the boxes of Christian kingship

Question 2

Where was Oderic Vitalis based and how did this impact his writing?

Answer 2

. At the age of 11 he was sent to the Abbey of Saint Evroul in Normandy
. Saint Evroul was constantly entertaining visitors from England so he was quite well informed of events

Question 3

Nationality of Oderic Vitalis

Answer 3

. Half English, Half French.

. He was born in England but sent to Normandy at 11

Question 4

Lifetime of Oderic Vitalis

Answer 4

c. 1075- c.1142. His narrative cuts off 1141/2

He’s useful for the stuff in his own lifetime/ contemporary view

Question 5

Primary sources for MW2 ‘Twelfth Century England and Normandy until 1154’

Answer 5

Oderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni

Question 6

Primary sources for MW3 ‘Anjou and Aquitaine’

Answer 6

Suger and The Pilgrim’s Guide

Question 7

How does Oderic Vitalis present the Normans?

Answer 7

As a uniquely expansionist, somewhat ‘chosen’ race

Question 8

Lifetime of Robert of Torigni

Answer 8

c. 1110- 1186

Question 9

Nationality/ location of Robert of Torigni

Answer 9

Norman

Question 10

Where was Robert of Torigni based and how did this impact his writing?

Answer 10

• He was based at Mont St Michel.

- The wealth and lure of Mont St Michel meant that it came into contact with kings on their journeys

Question 11

How was Robert of Torigni connected to the Angevin dynasty?

Answer 11

He was godfather to Eleanor of Aquitaine

Question 12

What were Robert of Torigni’s general opinions on the major players?

Answer 12

• He loved Henry II and is clear that Robert thought he was a great king
• Is praiseworthy of Matilda
• Also seems to have respected Stephen

Question 13

What is the general consensus of Henry II from contemporary sources?

Answer 13

• Accounts of his reign are generally positive, such as Robert of Torigni. This appears to have been the general consensus

Question 14

What is the general style of Robert of Torigni’s writing?

Answer 14

He seems to have been interested in writing in a chronological order, without a great deal of interpretation

Question 15

Who was Suger?

Answer 15

A french abbot, historian and statesman.

He became the foremost historian of his time

Question 16

Lifetime of Suger

Answer 16

c. 1081- 1151

Question 17

What was Suger’s general opinion of Henry II?

Answer 17

He went on diplomatic meetings to Henry in Normandy and seems to have been impressed by him

Question 18

Suger’s position/ sources as a writer

Answer 18

• Suger wrote a panegyric on Louis VI and co-wrote a slightly less impartial history of Louis VII
• He was very close with his subjects and to the French government, and was the closest advisor of Louis VI (the fat) and VII. He was actually educated with Louis VI and grew up with him

Question 19

Suger as a writer…

Answer 19

• He uses ‘I’ and ‘we’ a lot in his writings, indicating his proximity to his subjects
• He had very clear ideas about what a king should be

Question 20

Date of the Pilgrim’s Guide

Answer 20

• Comes from Book Vo f the Codex Calixtinus, dated to around 1138- 1145

Question 21

Who wrote the pilgrim’s guide?

Answer 21

It is anonymous, although it is thought to be attributable to Aymeric Picaud, a 12th-century French monk, and scholar

Question 22

Why was the pilgrim’s guide composed?

Answer 22

• Intended to give advice to pilgrims following the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostella in Galicia
• It contains a wealth of practical advice for Pilgrims in the 12th century

Question 23

Historical context of the pilgrim’s guide

Answer 23

the emergence of saint James as a patron saint for the fight against Islam in Iberia

Question 24

Why is the pilgrim’s guide useful?

Answer 24

• Importance and place of national/ ethnic stereotyping