The Old English History of the World: An Anglo-Saxon Rewriting of Orosius

Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library #44

by Paulus Orosius, Alfred the Great, Malcolm R. Godden (Translator)

The Old English History of the World is a translation and adaptation of the Latin history known as the Seven Books of History against the Pagans, written by the Spanish cleric Paulus Orosius at the prompting of Saint Augustine after the sack of Rome in 410. To counter the pagan and republican narratives of Livy and other classical historians, Orosius created an account of the ancient world from a Christian and imperial viewpoint. His work was immensely popular throughout Europe in succeeding centuries, down to the end of the Middle Ages. Around the year 900, an Old English version was produced by an anonymous writer, possibly encouraged or inspired by King Alfred. The translator actively transformed Orosius's narrative: cutting extraneous detail, adding explanations and dramatic speeches, and supplying a long section on the geography of the Germanic world. This volume offers a new edition and modern translation of an Anglo-Saxon perspective on the ancient world.

Genres: History, Medieval, Nonfiction

496 pages, Hardcover

First published December 18, 900

About the author

Paulus Orosius (born c. 375, died after 418)[1] — less often Paul Orosius in English — was a Gallaecian Christian priest, historian and theologian, a student of Augustine of Hippo. It is possible that he was born in Bracara Augusta (now Braga), then capital of the Roman province of Gallaecia.[2] Although there are some questions regarding his biography, such as his exact date of birth, it is known that he was a person of some prestige from a cultural point of view, as he had contact with the greatest figures of his time such as Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Jerome. In order to meet with them Orosius travelled to cities on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, such as Hippo Regius and Alexandria.

These journeys defined his life and intellectual output. Orosius did not just discuss theological matters with Saint Augustine, in fact he also collaborated with him on the book City of God.[3] In addition, in 415 he was chosen to travel to Palestine in order to exchange information with other intellectuals. He was also able to participate in a Church Council meeting in Jerusalem on the same trip and he was entrusted with transporting the relics of Saint Stephen. The date of his death is also unclear, although it appears to have not been earlier than 418, when he finished one of his books, or later than 423.[4]

He wrote a total of three books, of which his most important is his Seven Books of History Against the Pagans (Historiarum Adversum Paganos Libri VII), considered to be one of the books with the greatest impact on historiography during the period between antiquity and the Middle Ages, as well as being one of the most important Hispanic books of all time. Part of its importance comes from the fact that the author shows his historiographical methodology. The book is a historical narration focussing on the pagan peoples from the earliest time up until the time Orosius was alive.[5]

Orosius was a highly influential figure both for the dissemination of information (History Against the Pagans was one of the main sources of information regarding Antiquity that was used up to the Renaissance) and for rationalising the study of history (his methodology greatly influenced later historians)

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orosius / anonymous Old English translator: anyone who has complained about anything ever from the birth of christ onwards is ungrateful and wrong, go sit in the corner to think about what you've done & personally apologize to jesus

more specifically: romans stop whining about your city getting sacked (in 410) it was like the mildest sacking ever

[Will · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Æfter þam þe Romeburh getimbred wæs IIII hund wintrum and LXII, þa þa Dolabella and Domitius wæron consulas on Rome, þa Lucani and Bruti and Somnite and Gallie of Senno angunnon wið Romanum winnan. Đa sendon Romane ærendracan to Gallium ymbe frið, þa ofslogon hy þa ærendracan. þa sendon hy eft Cecilium heora pretorium mid firde þær Gallie and Bryti ætgædere wæron, and he þær wearð ofslagan and þæt folc mid him, þæt wæs CVII M. Swa oft Galli wið Romanum wunnon swa wurdon Romana gecnysede. Forþon ge Romane, cwæð Orosius, þonne ge ymb þæt an gefeoht ealneg ceoriað þe eow Gotan gedydon, hwy nellað ge geþencan þa monegan ærran þe eow Gallie oftrædlice bismerlice þurhtugon?

Ic sceal eac gemyndgian be sumum dæle þæs þe Alexandres æfterfylgendas dydon on þam tidum þe þis gewearð on Romebyrig, hu hy hi sylfe mid missenlican gefeohtum fordydon. Hit is, cwæð he, þam gelicost, þonne ic his geþencean sceal, þe ic sitte anre heahre dune and geseo þonne on smeþum felda fela fyra byrnan. Swa ofer eall Mæcedonia rice, þæt is ofer ealle þa maran Asiam, and ofer Europe þone mæstan dæl, and ealle Libium, þæt hit na nes buton hete and gewinnum. þa þe under Alexandre fyrmest wæran, þær þær hy æfter him rixedan, hy ðæt mid gewinnum awestan, and þær þær hy næran hy gedydan þone mæstan ege, swylce se biteresta smic upp astige, and þonne wide tofare.

Alexander XII gear þisne middangeard under him þrysmde and egsade, and his æfterfolgeras XIIII gear hit siþþan totugon and totæran gelicost þam þonne seo leo bringð his hungregum hwelpum hwæt to etanne: hy þonne gecyþað on þam æte hwylc heora mæst mæg gehrifnian. Swa þonne dyde Pholomeus, Alexandres þegna an, þa he togædere gesweop ealle Egyptum and Arabia...."