I The Development of France 221 The following additional sources for this period will be found in the Collection de textes, ODO OF ST. MAUR, Life of Burchard, one of the chief vassals and councilors of Hugh Capet. ADEMAR DE CHAVANNES, Chronicle coming down to 1027, and the Chronicle of Nantes (570-1049). The most important and interesting source for the twelfth century is the Historia ecclesiastica of ORDERICUS VITALIS, who was born in Eng- land in 1075, but spent the greater part of his life in Normandy. His so-called Historia is really a collection of four or five historical treatises, a short chronicle, an account of the expeditions of the Normans, a history of France and the Christian world, 751-1141, etc. Full of per- sonal reminiscences, vivid and sometimes humorous (published by Societe de rhistoire de France, 5 vols. ; English translation, by FORESTER, 4 vols., Bohn Library). SUGER, Life of Louis the Fat, written between 1138 and 1144. See above, pp. 198 sqq. (Collection de textes; GUIZOT, Collection, Vol. VIII.) RIGORD, Deeds of Philip Augustus, completed about 1 200. See above, pp. 206 sqq. (Societe de Fhistoire de France ; GUIZOT, Collection, Vol. II.) Rigord, like Suger, was a member of the great monastery of St. Denis. Their historical work was continued for two centuries by their fellow- monks, who constituted themselves royal historiographers. The best known of this group in the thirteenth century was William of Nangis (d. ca. 1300), who compiled a chronicle and lives of St. Louis and Philip III, which are valuable in parts, but have little of the charm of Joinville (BOUQUET, Vol. XX). The once highly esteemed Grandes chroniques de la France are a compilation in French of the contributions of the monks of St. Denis, preceded by older sources, such as the Annals of Lorsch and Annals of Einhard, together with much quite unworthy material. The most important historians of the thirteenth century are perhaps those of England, especially Roger of Wendover and his continuator, Matthew of Paris. See below, p. 244. Historical works by the monks of St. Denis.
