Richard of Devizes facts for kids
Richard of Devizes was an English monk and writer who lived in the late 1100s. He was a monk at St Swithin's house in Winchester.
He was likely born in Devizes in Wiltshire, which is where his last name comes from. Not much else is known about his life. Some historians believe he wrote the Annales de Wintonia, a historical record. If this is true, then he lived longer than King Richard I.
In his writings about King Richard I's coronation in 1189, Richard of Devizes was the first person to use the word "holocaust". He used it to describe a terrible event where many Jewish people in London were killed. At that time, the word "holocaust" simply meant a "whole burnt offering" to a god. It did not have the same meaning it does today.
The Chronicon: A Look at King Richard's Reign
Richard of Devizes is best known for his book called Chronicon de rebus gestis Ricardi Primi. This book was written in 1192 and only covers the first three years of King Richard I's time as ruler. It mainly describes events happening in England and the Holy Land during the Third Crusade.
The story in the Chronicon is told by a French Jewish shoemaker. He gives advice to young French Christians who plan to visit England.
What the Chronicon Tells Us
Some experts do not think Richard of Devizes is a very good source for details about the crusade itself. However, his descriptions of how people prepared for the crusade are valuable. His accounts of what happened in England while the king was away are also important, even if they have a few small mistakes.
Recently, historians have started to read the Chronicon in a new way. The book uses many references from old classical stories and the Bible. Because of this, some now see Richard's writing as a clever satire. A satire is a way of using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's ideas. They believe he might have been challenging some common Christian ideas about the Jewish community at the time. However, it is important to know that his book is not seen as a defense of the Jewish community. Other historians think Richard was very traditional and held strong opinions against Jewish people and the chancellor, William Longchamp.
Richard of Devizes wrote in a lively and memorable style. His Latin writing shows the influence of the 12th-century Renaissance, which was a time of renewed interest in classical learning. He even described King John as a "raging madman" who "emitted foam from his mouth."
Where to Find the Chronicon
The Chronicon de rebus gestis Ricardi Primi has been published in several collections:
- By R. Howlett in Chronicles of the Reigns of Stephen, Henry II and Richard I, volume 3 (1886).
- The Annales de Wintonia in HR Luard's Annales Monastici, volume 2 (London, 1864–69).
- By John T. Appleby in The chronicle of Richard of Devizes of the time of King Richard the First (1963).
