History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen

by Adam of Bremen, Francis Joseph Tschan, Timothy Reuter

Adam of Bremen's history of the see of Hamburg and of Christian missions in northern Europe from the late eighth to the late eleventh century is the primary source of our knowledge of the history, geography, and ethnography of the Scandinavian and Baltic regions and their peoples before the thirteenth century. Arriving in Bremen in 1066 and soon falling under the tutelage of Archbishop Adalbert, who figures prominently in the narrative, Adam recorded the centuries-long campaign by his church to convert Slavic and Scandinavian peoples. His History vividly reflects the firsthand accounts he received from travelers, traders, and missionaries on the peripheries of medieval Europe.

Genres: History, Medieval, Germany, Religion, Medieval History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2002

About the author

Adam of Bremen, also known as Adamus Bremensis (before 1050 - 1081/1085), was a German medieval chronicler who lived and worked in the second half of the eleventh century. Adam is most famous for his chronicle Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum (Deeds of Bishops of the Hamburg Church). He was "one of the foremost historians and early ethnographers of the medieval period".

Reviews

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

History is boring, right? Wrong!

This was written by Adam of Bremen in the late 11th century. That, in and of itself, should be enough to make this interesting reading if you are a history lover. This was written almost 1000 years ago. Think about that: 1000 years ago!

The history was written by Adam of Bremen, a priest, as a treatise covering the history of the catholic church in northern Germany, from 788 to Adam's time, 300 years latere. This work addresses the mission of the diocese of Hamburg-Bremen, which included present day Scandinavia during what we now know as The Viking Age. Norse paganism and the mission to Christianize Scandinavia is one large topic. This also confirms the early Viking explorations of Iceland, Greenland and Vinland, which is to say that it is a record of the European finding of North America, before Columbus was even born. This would be before Columbus' grandparents were born. The telling of the travels of the men of the north includes their voyages to the west, most important to the Catholic Church because of the tithe that could be collected from what was found in these new worlds.

Adam was a catholic priest, well educated, as his title Magister Adam identifies. Adam rose through all levels of higher education. He was invited to join the church of Bremen by the archbishop and eventually became director of the cathedral's school. He composed this work whilst director of that school.

This work, this treatise, was written in medieval Latin, the title, 'Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum,' meaning 'Deeds of the Bishops of Hamburg.' This is Adam of Bremen's opus, a collected history of the Catholic Church in northern Europe. Adam began writing this tome between 1073 and 1076 and made additions until his death, likely between 1081 and 1085. This is a record of the accomplishments of the archbishopric to include the mission to save the 'savages' of the north.

References to many earlier works, to which Adam had access in the library of the church of Bremen, include the Venerable St. Bede, 'the father of English History,' and author of 'The Ecclesiastical History of the English People,' Einhard (biographer for Charlemagne), and Cassiodorus (chief assistant to Theodoric the Great of Italy).

This is a wonderful source for anyone that is trying to gain an understanding of the dark ages, especially from the viewpoint of the catholic church which essentially ruled the dark ages.

[Andrew Varga · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the lowest rating I've ever given to a history book, but unfortunately the rating was deserved. Adam of Bremen's text is long, rambling, and full of historical errors. (Which are thankfully corrected by the copious footnotes.) He blatantly borrows from other texts, providing his own mish-mash of history, geography, and geneology that highlights the conversion of the northern peoples over the course of a few hundred years. Some of the "history" reported is just plain fantastical, such as on page 200 when he writes about Amazons. "Some declare that they conceive by sipping water. Some, too, assert that they are made pregnant by the merchants who pass that way, or by the men whom they hold captive in their midst, or by various monsters, which are not rare there. This explanation we also believe to be more credible." And his geography seems to be entirely taken entirely from other sources, including Roman ones, which would have been dated by the time he was writing. The strongest point of his history is his depiction of the political landscape of northern Europe in the 900s and early 1000s. He provides an excellent view of the various emperors and kings all moving and plotting against each other, and the various methods they use to keep in power. In addition, he does provide a really strong history of the archbishops of Hamburg and Bremen (as the book's title suggests.) However, I did find that these particular histories were overly detailed and layered thick with obsequious adulation.

[Maxime Van Hoecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very important historical document, but please don't expect an entertaining history book. This is an historical document written by a monk between 1067-1085, tasked by his archbishop Adalbert and later Liemar. What does this mean? It was never meant to be correct, but to promote the idea of the greatness of the Bishopric and it's church fathers.

What is interesting is the view Christians had on the north as decribed by the author, and the history as given by Adam of Hamburg-Bremen.

Also Adam wrote an enitre book about Adalbert of Bremen and he never showed up again in historical documents that give another pov on this very interesting charachter. That sucks.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting source on the development of Scandinavia and the relationship with Europe (among other things)

[Uncas Zeuthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, as a Historican, I do find this very interesting, because it gives a lot of details how the world looked like back to the days. Adam of Bremen is my big fanboy of historican source...