Early medieval hagiographical texts abound with vivid descriptions of acts of communication. Such descriptions in the hagiography written in the diocese of Auxerre during the Merovingian period are studied here in an attempt to establish the status of the written word 'vis-a-vis' other means of communication, such as the spoken word or rituals. For this purpose the dating of each source is reconsidered. The texts were written within the clerical community of Auxerre and most relate in some way to Germanus, the most renowned bishop of Auxerre (first half of the fifth century). Although the 'Vita Germani' by Constantius was not written in Auxerre nor for an Auxerrois audience, it is included in the analysis, since it has exerted a profound influence on the later hagiographical narratives produced in the diocese. This study demonstrates that the authors of these texts were very much aware of the limitations of the written word as well as of the advantages and importance of non-written communication.
Author(s): Wolfert S. van Egmond
Series: Utrecht Studies in Medieval Literacy, 15
Publisher: Brepols
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 240
City: Turnhout
Preface vii
Abbreviations ix
Map of Auxerre in the early Middle Ages x
Chapter 1. Introduction 1
Hagiography and historiography: a problem of genre 6
The Carolingian authors 11
Alagus and Rainogala 12
Heiric 13
Relationships between the Carolingian texts 22
Chapter 2. Constantius' 'Vita Germani': An Author and His Text 25
The author 26
Distribution of the 'Vita Germani' 29
Purposes of the 'Vita Germani' 33
Historiography 35
Conclusion 36
Chapter 3. Communication in the 'Vita Germani' 37
Written communication 38
Oral communication 44
Non-verbal communication 53
Conclusion 63
Chapter 4. The Merovingian Sources 65
The historical background 65
The 'Martyrologium Hieronymianum' 71
The 'Vita sancti Amatoris episcopi Autissiodorensis' 74
The 'Vita sancti Peregrini episcopi Autissiodorensis' 81
The 'Passio sancti Prisci et sociorum eius' 85
The 'Passio sancti Albani' 90
The 'Revelatio Corcodemi seu conversio Mamertini' 97
The 'Vita sancti Germani interpolata' 107
The 'Vita sancti Aunarii episcopi Autissiodorensis' 128
The 'Vita sancti Mariani monachi' 131
A lost 'Vita sancti Marsi'? 134
Conclusion 136
Chapter 5. Communication in the Merovingian Texts 137
Education, literacy and Holy Scripture 138
Exorcisms and other communication with the supernatural 145
Gesture and ritual 157
Early medieval liturgy and its sources 162
The marriage of Amator and Martha 169
Baptism 182
Conclusion 193
Chapter 6. Preliminary conclusions 195
Bibliography 203
Printed sources 203
