William of Newburgh facts for kids
William of Newburgh (born 1136 – died 1198) was an important English historian from the 1100s. He was also an Augustinian canon, which means he was a type of monk who followed the rules of Saint Augustine. William came from a town called Bridlington in England.
William lived through some tough times, including when people in York were treated very unfairly. He wrote that this unfair treatment was "less about religious belief than about greedy people wanting more for themselves." He also wrote about religious topics, including a long piece about the Virgin Mary.
William's Big Book: History of England
William's most famous work is called Historia rerum Anglicarum, which means "History of English Affairs." This book, written in Latin, tells the story of England from 1066 to 1198. Historians still find it very useful today because it describes a chaotic time in England known as The Anarchy. This was a period when there was a lot of fighting and disorder in England under King Stephen of England.
William's book is written in an interesting way and is still fun to read. It shares many fascinating stories and gives us a peek into what life was like in the 12th century. He is a key source for stories about medieval revenants. These were like animated bodies that people believed came back from their graves. These stories are similar to old vampire beliefs. William is also the only person who wrote about a unique character named Wimund, who was both a bishop and a pirate!
William's Critical Eye
A historian from the 1800s, Edward Augustus Freeman, once said that William was like "the father of historical criticism." This means William was very good at looking closely at information and deciding if it was true. He was quite critical of King John, calling him "nature's enemy." In general, William wrote about English kings in a way that was "loyal but critical and cool." He didn't just praise them; he thought carefully about their actions.
William believed his own work was based on reliable facts. He strongly disagreed with another writer named Geoffrey of Monmouth and his book Historia Regum Britanniae. William said that Geoffrey "shamelessly and impudently lies in almost everything." He criticized Geoffrey for writing a history that didn't match what was found in the writings of earlier historians like Bede and church records. William thought history should be based on truth, not made-up stories.
Mysterious Tales in History
Because many people in the 12th century believed in souls returning from the dead, William's Historia briefly shares stories he heard about these "revenants." Another writer from the same time, Walter Map, also wrote about similar folklore. Even though these stories are a small part of William's book, they have caught the attention of people interested in strange or magical things.
William also wrote about the arrival of the green children of Woolpit. These were two mysterious children who appeared with green skin. He also described other strange and wonderful events. William mentioned that these events seemed to have a special meaning, but he didn't explain what that meaning was. He presented these amazing events to his readers with questions and doubts. This shows he was a careful and honest thinker.
