Venantius Fortunatus: Personal and Political Poems: 23 (Translated Texts for Historians) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0853231796 ISBN 13: 9780853231790

Publisher: Liverpool University Press, 1995

Synopsis

Venantius Fortunatus, writing in the latter half of the sixth century, was not only a major Latin poet, but also an important historical figure. He travelled as a young man to seek patronage in the courts of Merovingian Gaul, writing both formal and informal poetry for three of the royal brothers, Sigibert, Charibert and Chilperic, and for many influential figures in ecclesiastical and secular life. His poems paint a picture of a literary, not merely literate, culture, which complement's Gregory's canvas of bloodthirsty dynastic feuding.

About this title

Synopsis:

Venantius Fortunatus, writing in the latter half of the 6th century, was not only a major Latin poet, but also an important historical figure. Born in the north of Italy and given a classical education in Ravenna, he travelled as a young man to seek patronage in the courts of Merovingian Gaul, writing both formal and informal poetry for three of the royal brothers, Sigibert, Charibert and Chilperic, and for many influential figures in ecclesiastical and secular life. He settled eventually in Poitiers, as the close friend of the ex-queen Radegund, of Agnes, abbess of the community Radegund had founded, and of the major historian of the period, Gregory of Tours. In this period of cultural tradition, Venantius played an important part in adapting and developing literary traditions, influencing not only his contemporaries but succeeding generations as well. He also played a personal role in events of national and international significance, and his poems give glimpses of the individual lives and characters of his patrons, painting a picture of a literary, not merely literate, culture which complements Gregory's canvas of bloodthirsty dynastic fueding.

About the Author:

Judith George is Deputy Scottish Director and Senior Research Associate of the UK Open University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Liverpool University Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0853231796
• ISBN 13: 9780853231790
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192