Carolingian history books
Rosamond McKitterick
The history of Alexander by Quintus Curtius Rufus was written in the first century AD. Its earliest surviving manuscript, Paris, BnF lat. 5716, Carolingian period for Count Conrad scribe Haimo Loire region second half ninth century. How may we account this? is not an orthodox member Roman historiographical canon sense that he does deal with contemporary themes. Certainly his History sensational and emotional; it has much exotic remote its narrative, good character sketches. There are vivid depictions characteristics different peoples – effeminate Persians, intelligent Scythians, volatile Egyptians, Greeks, who ‘political trimmers temperament’, ‘time-serving Cretans’, Sicilians' penchant flattery fickleness mob. speeches abound morals pointed. Accounting attractions, therefore, perhaps difficult, through risks being a subjective exercise relation to modern tastes. Nevertheless, other ninth-century copies origin besides Conrad's book do indeed suggest some popularity text. Further, text tradition these various manuscripts represent very diverse. It might be natural postulate mutilated archetype as original from which others stemmed, all texts omit Books 1–2, end Book 5 beginning 6. copies, however, sufficiently manuscript indicate possibility number independent exemplars varying milieux production later middle ages.
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