Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis | |
|---|---|
Modern plaque commemorating Orderic Vitalis at the Abbey of Saint-Evroul, Normandy | |
| Born | Orderic 16 February 1075 Atcham, Shropshire, England |
| Died | c. 1142 (aged c. 67) |
| Other names | Ordericus Vitalis |
| Occupations | Oblate (1085–1090) Monk (beginning 1090) Subdeacon (1091–1093) Deacon (1093–1107) Priest (beginning 1107) Chronicler |
| Notable work | Historia ecclesiastica (Orderic Vitalis) |
| Father | Odelerius of Orléans |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Teachers | Siward Jean of Reims |
| Monastic name | Vitalis |
Orderic Vitalis (Latin: Ordericus Vitalis; 16 February 1075 – c. 1142) was an English chronicler and Benedictine monk who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th- and 12th-century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. Working out of the Abbey of Saint-Evroul, he is credited with writing the Historia Ecclesiastica, a work detailing the history of Europe and the Mediterranean from the birth of Jesus Christ into his own age. The son of a cleric, he was born into a noble family, claiming both English and Norman heritage. While he is known primarily for the Historia Ecclesiastica, he held various positions within the abbey including script master, librarian, and cantor. A prolific writer, he addressed various topics in his writings, both religious and secular. Modern historians view him as a reliable source.