Die Werke Liudprands von Cremona

Medieval Texts in Translation

by Liudprand of Cremona (Creator)

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Genres: History, Medieval History

302 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 1993

About the author

Liutprand, also Liudprand, Liuprand, Lioutio, Liucius, Liuzo, and Lioutsios (c. 922 – 972) was a Lombard historian, author, and Bishop of Cremona.

A Greek speaker, he served as ambassador to the Byzantine Empire for Berengar and later the Emperor Otto I.

Reviews

[AB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best pieces I have read from the middle ages.

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent edition of the collected writings of Liudprand, tenth-century bishop of Cremona with a penchant for moonlighting as a diplomat and historian. He offers a fairly detailed and fascinating look at events of the late 800s through mid-900s, and his lack of impartiality can be rather refreshing. His main historical work is, after all, the Antapodosis ("Retribution"), designed to embarrass his former patron Berengar II and to further ingratiate himself with Otto I. Antapodosis takes up the bulk of the text and is quite useful in its own right; I had occasion to utilize one of his juicier anecdotes for a sermon on honesty!

He has a somewhat anti-Jewish Easter homily here, plus a small piece about King Otto, but the other great gem is his harshly bitter Embassy to Constantinople, the story of his mistreatment while on an extended diplomatic mission to the court of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros II Phokas.

On the whole, out of all the medieval histories you could be reading, Liudprand is one of the livelier choices - go for it!

[Jarod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make no mistake, he was a wretch--as he admits, Christian he was. In fact, Luidprand's chauvinism by modern standards effectively slot him a virulent anti-Semite. Nevertheless, his biases are not without entertainment value. Getting peeved at the notion a Basileus might utilize intrigue in foreign policy, taking off in Virgil-fueled, retributive transports, and expressing schlocky shock over common human turpitude, he proves himself a capable writer of some remarkably boring history. Literary value? Yes.

[Daniel Boughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this so highly because it's an amazing primary source and Liudprand is not the worst monk to ever put quill to paper, but I swear to fuck if I never have to read about how Western virility - defined by beards, hatred of the fairer sex, unwashed bodies and fleas, probably - is the height of human civilizati... Who the fuck am I kidding? An awful human being who nonetheless gives us great insight into a time where primary sources are relatively rare.

[Shef · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just can't give this a low rating. It's not only an amazing primary source, but it's also hilarious. This goes for most medieval writers, but he doesn't even try to hide his biases and includes every story and anecdote that may help him. Short and sweet (and useful) this ol book.