Guillaume of Poitiers

Guillaume of Poitiers , born with the Courtyards close to Pont-Audemer towards 1020 and died in 1090, is a Norman chronicler .

Born in an influential Norman family, Guillaume of Poitiers studies, after having been soldier, with Poitiers and on its return in Normandy, becomes the chaplain of the duke Guillaume II and archdeacon of Lisieux and is distinguished like most erudite from his condiciples. In the short biography which Orderic Vital in its Historia ecclesiastica devoted to him, he says that he also versified. His/her sister was abbess of the Abbaye Saint-Leger de Préaux.

Guillaume of Poitiers is the author in a style imitating Salluste of an eulogistic life of the duke, the Gesta Guillelmi II dukes Normannorum , written between 1071 and 1077. The preserved part, the beginning and the conclusion having been lost, covers the period between 1047 and 1068. Although not very reliable with regard to the businesses England, the Gesta Guillelmi gives details of value on life of William the Conqueror: one finds a description detailed of the preparations for the Conquête of England, of the Bataille of Hastings and his consequences. Ordéric Vital drew there for its Histoire of Normandy .

Work

• History of William the Conqueror , Clermont-Ferrand, Paléo, 2004 ISBN 2849090557

References

• Raymonde Foreville, At the origins of the legal rebirth. Legal concepts and romanisantes influences at Guillaume of Poitiers, biographer of the Conqueror , Brussels, Impr. sciences, 1952
• regional Language and civilization: of Guillaume of Poitiers with Jean-Henri Burgaud Of Marets , Cognac Museum, September 20th - October 22nd, 1973, Cognac, Museum of Cognac, 1973