Ansgar, Rimbert and the Forged Foundations of Hamburg-Bremen
Eric Knibbs
Ansgar and Rimbert, ninth-century bishops missionaries to Denmark Sweden, are fixtures of medieval ecclesiastical history. Rare is the survey that does not pause mention their work among pagan peoples North foundation an archdiocese centered at Hamburg Bremen. But Rimbert were also clever forgers who wove a complex tapestry myths half-truths about themselves mission. They worked with tacit approval-if outright cooperation-of kings popes craft fictional account Ansgar's life work. The true story, very different from found in our history books, has never been told: did any all. Rather, idea Hamburg-Bremen only took root tenth century, royal sponsorship mission Sweden ended death Louis Pious. This book couples detailed philological diplomatic analysis broader historical contextualization overturn consensus view on basic reliability documents Rimbert's Vita Anskarii. By revising understanding Carolingian northeastern expansion after Charlemagne, it provides new insight into political early Europe.