Saint Benedict, Montecassino, and the Crisis of Ninth-Century Southern Lombards in Early Medieval Cassinese...

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Luigi Andrea Berto

Saint Benedict, Montecassino, and the Crisis of Ninth-Century Southern Lombards in Early Medieval Cassinese Memory

Luigi Andrea Berto

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English

Routledge
30 May 2025

Series: Routledge Medieval Translations

The dissolution of the Lombard political unity in southern Italy and the Muslim military activities in that area rendered the ninth century a crucial, yet troubled period for the history of this part of the Italian peninsula. The abbey of Montecassino was deeply affected by those events as well. Its riches, in fact, made it an easy target for the Muslims, who, after imposing heavy tributes on the monastery, pillaged and destroyed it in 883. Several years had to pass before Saint Benedict’s monks could return to Montecassino. In the difficult period of exile they put a lot of effort in the reconstruction of their community’s identity as well as in reaffirming its role as repository of southern Italy’s memory. In this process of reconstruction the texts known as The Chronicles of Saint Benedict of Cassino had the fundamental task of describing as well as explaining the events that had provoked the crisis of southern Lombard Italy.

Using a topical approach and presenting the English translation and the Latin text of excerpts from The Chronicles of Saint Benedict of Cassino, this volume examines how the Cassinese historians narrated that tragic period and at the same time mentioned the glorious times of Saint Benedict’s foundation of Montecassino.

Saint Benedict, Montecassino, and the Crisis of Ninth-Century Southern Lombards in Early Medieval Cassinese Memory will appeal to scholars and students of early medieval southern Italy, as well as all those interested in medieval Europe and the medieval Mediterranean.

Edited by: Luigi Andrea Berto
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032528496
ISBN 10: 1032528494
Series: Routledge Medieval Translations
Pages: 138
Publication Date: 30 May 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Introduction The Texts 1. Saint Benedict and the foundation of Montecassino 2. The Lombards’ invasion of Italy 3. The Lombard rulers and Montecassino 4. The war between Benevento and Salerno 5. Foolish and incompetent Lombards 6. The Capuans 7. The Muslims 8. The Franks in southern Italy 9. The hated neighbors: the Neapolitans 10. The abbots of Montecassino 11. The miracles of Saint Benedict Appendix A. The Chronicles of Saint Benedict of Cassino Appendix B. Chronica Sancti Benedicti Casinensis Bibliography

Luigi Andrea Berto is Professor of Medieval History at Western Michigan University, USA. His research focuses on medieval Italy and the Mediterranean, with a special interest in the use of the past in the medieval and modern periods, and the relationships between Christians and Muslims.