Ansgar, Rimbert and the Forged Foundations of Hamburg-Bremen, by Eric Knibbs
Scott Ashley
This is a valuable and thought-provoking book that will make historians of the Carolingian church Frankish missions to Scandinavia in ninth century re-evaluate some their basic assumptions. It has been recognised for well over textual evidence early history archdiocese Hamburg-Bremen problematic includes fictional elements, shaped by its controversial history. Eric Knibbs takes these established insights stage further arguing original driving forces behind forgeries (he consistent his language describe processes) were Ansgar himself, famous missionary Danes Swedes putative first archbishop Hamburg-Bremen, successor biographer, Rimbert. The begins with historiographical introduction, helpfully summarising an Anglophone audience long-established German scholarship on followed two contextual chapters assessing traditions activity organisation northern Europe, from Anglo-Saxon conversion conquest Saxony. sets out immediately how Ansgar’s career, as told Rimbert’s Vita associated ninth-century documentation, looks ‘both familiar unique’ (p. 47) when compared earlier contemporary examples church. Then follow four tightly-focused which examines chronological development notion (given canonical form Rimbert) was made 831–2 before eventually succeeding 864 joint archbishopric Hamburg Bremen founded Pope Nicholas I. Through detailed source criticism reconstruction political ecclesiastical contexts, carefully builds very different biography Ansgar, he granted legatine status 831, bishop 834, 847 at alone just death. Only 865 did successor, Rimbert, become Hamburg, although hold this position tenuous abandoned end life. He died 888 archbishop, or possibly only bishop, Bremen. Contrary conclusions most obscure events, maintains there never any unified century; decades after 900 it slowly begin emerge shadows. existence entirely result myth-making deliberate deception Scandinavian mission own ambitions.
The English Historical Review