The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis

The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis has been called the greatest of all medieval chronicles. Written in Normandy between 1114 and 1141, it is a detailed history of the Norman people and their conquests, full of vivid portraits of the lives and characters of men and women, kings and queens, lords and bishops, simple knights and humble villagers. The chronicle offers a unique, authentic picture of feudal society during a period of rapid change in church and state which saw the emergence of the Anglo-Norman realm, the spread of new forms of monasticism, and the launching of the Crusades.

Abbreviated references; Introduction: The author and his work; The sources of books III and IV; The historical value of books III and IV; Manuscript, punctuation, and spelling; Orderic Vitalis: Book III; Book IV; Apopendix 1. The descent of the lands of the lords of Bellême; Appendix II. The life and legend of St Judoc (St Josse); Appendix III. Early narrative sources for the Norman conquest; Geneological table. The family of Giroie (Géré); Index of quotations and allusions; General index