Hi everybody
Below is a list of European books and texts from the period appr. 100-1100. I’ve tried to put some stats on most titles, taking some liberties here and there - feel free to comment or supply further books to the list. (Disclaimer: my Danish to English translation skills might be a bit lacking here and there).
(Also, see A&A 136-139 for the classics of philosophy and theology).
BACKGROUND
The covenant of my troupe is defined by its library which houses “one of Northern Europe’s greatest collection of books” which attracts readers from near and far and is a source of substantial vis income, as it says in the original description of our covenant, which Jeppe (Furion Transsanus in this forum) wrote years ago. For years we have had a list of hermetic books + some of the classics from A&A, but I felt like fleshing out the library with some more titles possibly owned.
LIST
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Apicius / De re coquinaria, 2th century?
A list of roman recipes.
Tractatus: Craft: Cook, qua 8 -
Suetonius: De vita Caesarum. 121 AD
On the twelve emperors from Julius Caesar to Domitian.
Tractatus: Organization lore Roman Empire??? Qua 13 -
Historia Augusta, second half of 4th century
On the Roman emperors from Hadrian to Numerianus (117-284 CE).
Tractatus: Organization lore: Roman Empire??? Qua 11 -
Didymus the Blind: De Trinitate, second half of 4th century
On the Holy Trinity
Tractatus: Theology, qua 7 -
Didymus the Blind: De Spirito Sancto, second half of 4th century
On the divinity of the Holy Spirit
Tractatus: Theology, qua 6 -
Athanasius of Alexandria: De Spirito Sancto, second half of 4th century
On the divinity of the Holy Spirit
Tractatus: Theology, qua 7 -
Athanasius of Alexandria: Vita S. Antoni, second half of 4th century
On St. Antony and his life as a monk, including his ascetism in the Egyptian desert and the temptations he successfully avoids succumbing to.
Tractatus: Church lore, qua 4
Tractatus: Infernal lore, qua 4??
8 ) Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus: Martyrologium Hieronymianum, appr. 362
Martyrology, martyrs through the calendar year
Tractatus: Church lore, qua 7
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Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus: De re Militari, 5th Century
On military matters in the Roman Empire
Tractatus: Profession: Battle tactician/army strategist, qua 8 -
St Gildas: De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, appr. 520
A description of the Roman conquest of Britain and a scolding of a number of british kings and ecclesiastical notabilities.
Tractatus: Area lore: England, qua 8. -
Isidore af Sevilla: Etymologiae, appr. 600
Latin encyclopaedia primarily on etymology, but also on cosmology, astronomy, types of rocks, metals, on mathematics, music, geometry and other things. Used as a schoolbook.
Tractatus: Latin, qua 8
Summa: Philosophie, level 2, qua 8
Summa: Artes liberales, level 2, qua 8 -
Indiculus superstitionum et paganiarum, 8th Century
List of and condemnation of a number of superstitions and pagan beliefs in Northern Gaul
Tractatus: Maybe Magic Lore?? / Fairie Lore?? -
Bede: De temporum ratione, 725
introduction to the cosmos.
Tractatus: Philosophiae: 7 -
De ordine ac positione stellarum in signis, 809
Astronomical compendium from the court of the Carolingians
Tractatus: Philosophiae, qua 7 -
Nennius(?): Historia Brittonum
On the people that inhabited Britain before the Anglo-saxons.
Tractatus: Area lore: Britain, qua 6 -
Emperor Leo IV the Wise: Tactica, appr. 900 (Τακτικά)
Greek text on byzantine military tactics
Tractatus: Profession: Battle tactician/army strategist, qua 9 -
Ekkehard: Waltharius. 920
Poem about prince Walter of Aquitania and his bethrothed Hildegund, who were Attila’s hostages, but escaped with the treasure of the hunnic king (in latin)
Tractatus: ??? -
Chronicle of the Picts, 10th century
On the origin and kings of the picts (latin)
Tractatus: Area Lore Scotland. Qua 7 -
Hrotsvitha af Gandersheim: Paphnutius or the conversion of the Harlot Thaïs, 10th century.
Drama about the courtisan Thais of Alexandria and the hermit Paphnutius.
Tractatus: Storytelling??, qua 5 -
Exeter Book, second half of 10th Century.
Antology of anglo-saxon poetry, written in english.
Tractatus: English, qua 9 -
The Benedictional of St. Æthelwold, 970s
Beautifully illuminated book with a collection of Benedictitionals (blessings) read by the bishop during mass.
Tractatus: Theology, qua 11 -
Chronicle of the Kings of Alba, 11th century
On the Kings of Scotland 850-995 AD (latin)
Tractatus: Area Lore Scotland. Qua 8 -
Annales Cambriae, 1000-tallet
A collection of annals from Wales covering the period of appr. 500-1000. Primarily Welsh History.
Tractatus: Area Lore Wales. Qua 9 -
William le Breton: Legenda Sancti Goeznovii, 1019
A tale of bishop Goeznovius’ escape to Britanny after the fall of King Arthur and the Saxon invasion af Britain.
Tractatus: Area lore Brittany??, qua 7 -
Burchard of Worms: Decretorum libri viginti. 1021
Canon Law, written for use in Cathedral Schools.
Summa: Civil & Canon law, level 2, qua 10 -
John of Fécamp: Libellus de scripturis et verbis patrum, 1018
Book of Prayers
Tractatus: Theology, qua 5 -
Sponsus, appr. 1050
Dramatic treatment of Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Virgins
Tractatus: Storytelling??, qua 5 -
John of Fécamp: Ascetic Works, appr. 1060
Written for empress widow Agnes af Poitiers. "Liber precum variarum", "De divina contemplatio Christique amore", "De superna Hierusalem," "De institutione viduae," "De vita et moribus virginum", "De eleemosynarum dispensatione"
Tractatus: Divine lore, qua 7
Tractatus: Church lore, qua 8 -
Honorius Augustodunensis: Elucidarium, 1098
Three books written in the form a socratic dialogue. On God, angels, the fall of angels, the creation of man, his fall and need for redemption, on the divinity of Christ, on the church and eucharist, the Anti-christ, the second coming, judgement day, purgatory, the pains of hell and joys of heaven. Written in easy accessible latin and embellished with many loans from the native folklore of England.
Summa: Divine lore, level 2, quality 12
Tractatus: Infernal lore, quality 8
Tractatus: Fairie lore, quality 6 -
Honorius Augustodunensis: Imago Mundi, beginning of the 12th Century
A cosmological and geographical encyclopaedia as well as a Chronicle of world history, Very popular as a school book.
Tractatus: Area lore: Europe, qua 10
Tractatus: Area lore: Levant, qua 7
Summa: Philosophiae, level 2, qua 8
- Anders