Orderic Vitalis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orderic Vitalis
Born	16 February 1075 near Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Died	c. 1142 (aged c. 67)
Occupation	Chronicler

Orderic Vitalis was an English monk and historian. He lived from 1075 to about 1142. He wrote an important history book about England and Normandy. This book covers the 11th and 12th centuries. Today, historians trust his writings as a good source of information.

Orderic's Early Life and Family

Orderic was born on February 16, 1075. His birthplace was Atcham, in Shropshire, England. His father, Odelerius, was a French priest. His mother was English. This made Orderic one of the few monks with parents from different backgrounds.

His father worked for Roger de Montgomery, a powerful earl. When Orderic was five, his parents sent him to school. He studied with a monk named Siward at Shrewsbury Abbey.

Moving to Normandy

At age ten, Orderic went to live at the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. This abbey was in Normandy, a region in France. His parents paid a large sum of money for him to join. They believed this was best for his future.

Orderic felt like a stranger at first. He didn't know any French when he arrived. Even years later, he still felt English at heart. He always remembered his home country.

Life as a Monk

When Orderic was old enough, he became a monk. His superiors gave him a new name, "Vitalis." They found his English name, Orderic, hard to say. But he proudly used both names. He also added "Angligena," meaning "English-born."

Orderic's life as a monk was mostly quiet. He became a deacon in 1093. Later, he became a priest in 1107. He traveled a few times, visiting places like Worcester in England and Cluny Abbey in France.

Orderic's Writing Journey

Orderic started writing early in his monastic life. He spent many summers in the scriptorium. This was a room where monks copied and wrote books.

His first big project was adding to a history book. It was called Gesta Normannorum Ducum. This book told the story of the Normans and their dukes. Orderic added new information and continued the story into the 1100s. He used both English and Norman sources. This helped him write a balanced account of the Norman Conquest.

The Ecclesiastical History

Around 1110, Orderic's leaders asked him to write a history of Saint-Evroul Abbey. This project grew into his most famous work. It was called Historia Ecclesiastica, or Ecclesiastical History. It became a general history of his own time.

Saint-Evroul was a rich and important abbey. Many knights retired there. It also welcomed visitors from Italy and England. This meant Orderic heard many stories. He learned about important events, even if he didn't see them himself.

What the History Covers

Orderic's Ecclesiastical History is divided into three main parts:

• Part 1: Early Christian History

* The first two books cover the history of Christianity. They start from the birth of Christ. Orderic added these books later, between 1136 and 1141.

• Part 2: History of Saint-Evroul Abbey

* Books three to six focus on the history of his own abbey. These were the first parts he planned. They were written mostly between 1123 and 1131. * These books also include stories about William the Conqueror. For events before 1071, Orderic used other historical writings. After 1071, his work becomes a very important original source.

• Part 3: Events of His Time

* Books seven to thirteen focus less on church matters. They cover events from about 1082 onwards. Orderic wrote about the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. He also wrote about the Normans in Italy and the First Crusade. * He was very interested in the lives of three brothers: Robert Curthose, William Rufus, and Henry I of England. He continued his history up to 1141. This included the capture of King Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln.

Orderic finished his great work around 1142. He wrote that he was old and weak then. He likely died soon after completing his history. His Ecclesiastical History is considered one of the greatest English social histories of the Middle Ages.