Rimbert

Rimbert , archbishop of Hamburg–Bremen 865–888, is mainly known for having written the biography of his predecessor Ansgar, the first missionary to Scandinavia. The main source for Rimbert’s life is an anonymous biography, Vita Rimberti. Adam of Bremen, in his Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum (Deeds of the bishops of the Church of Hamburg), book I, chapters 34–44 (eleventh century), amply quotes this work in writing the history of Rimbert; moreover he uses information from an account (compotus) from Corvey in Westphalia, the daughter monastery of Corbie in Picardy, as well as from various annals, e.g. the Annales Fuldenses and Corbeienses. Ansgar had been teaching in both these monasteries, and they became decisively important also for his successor. As a boy, Rimbert lived near Torhout, a small monastery in Flanders, which was to serve the newly-founded archbishopric of Hamburg, and the archbishop, Ansgar, on a visit to that place, noticed him and persuaded his parents to let him become a priest. After finishing his education – in Torhout and probably in Corbie –, he went with Ansgar to Hamburg and became his special friend and helper. He assisted Ansgar on journeys, for example to Denmark and possibly also to Sweden. Ansgar had designed Rimbert to be his successor, and when Ansgar died, on 3 February 865, Rimbert was elected archbishop of the united see of Hamburg and Bremen, the archbishop’s residence having been transferred to Bremen after the Vikings had plundered Hamburg in 845. Immediately after his consecration he went to Corvey, where he took vows. Rimbert died in 888; his burial took place on 11 June. The biography of Ansgar, Vita Anskarii (Life of Ansgar) was written after Ansgar’s death in 865 and before the death of King Louis in 876 (it is clear from chapter 22 that the king was alive). The author’s name is not mentioned in the book, but Adam attests (I 34) that it was written by Rimbert, and so does the Vita Rimberti (chapter 9), adding, however, that there was a co-author, a condiscipulus – another disciple of Ansgar’s. The book is a traditional specimen of hagiography, both descriptive and laudatory. Great attention is paid to Ansgar’s two missionary journeys to Birka, in 829–831 and around 850 respectively, and interesting information is given on conditions and events in this very early Swedish town. The full title given in the principal manuscript (A 1) is: Incipit libellus continens vitam vel gesta seu obitum domni Anskarii primi Nordalbingorum archiepiscopi et legati sanctae sedis apostolicae ad Sueones seu Danos necnon etiam Slavos et reliquas gentes in Aquilonis partibus sub pagano adhuc ritu constitutas. (DUCHESNE, F. 1641: Historiae Francorum sanctorum, vol. 3, Paris, 395–409 (excerpts).) CAESAR, PH. 1642: Triapostolatus septemtrionis. Vita et gesta S. Willehadi, S. Ansgarii, S. Rimberti ... , Cologne, 40–125. LAMBECIUS, P. 1652: “Vita S. Anscharii primi archiepiscopi Hamburgensis conscripta a S. Remberto ejus successore,” in Origines Hamburgenses, Hamburg, 167–240 (new edition by J.A. Fabricius 1706, 51–78). HENSCHEN, G.F. 1658: ASS, Febr., vol. 1, Antwerpen, 408–27; 3rd ed. 413–33. ARRHENIUS, CL. 1677: Sancti Anscharii primi Hamburgensium archiepiscopi ... vita gemina, Stockholm, 12–154 (with medieval Swedish translation, see Medieval reception and transmission). MABILLON, J. 1701: Acta Sanctorum ordinis sancti Benedicti saeculi IV, vol. 2, Paris, 78–114; 2nd ed. 81–116 (mainly reprint of HENSCHEN 1658). STAPHORST, N. 1723: “Vita S. Anscharii, beschrieben von S. Remberto,” in Historia ecclesiae Hamburgensis diplomatica, das ist Hamburgische Kirchen-Geschichte, vol. I:1, Hamburg, 85–123. LANGEBEK, J. 1772: “Vita Sancti Anscharii,” in SRD 1, 429–95. FANT, E.M. 1828: “Vita Sancti Anscharii per S. Rembertum. Latine et Svetice,” in SRS II:1, 175–258 (with medieval Swedish translation, see Medieval reception and transmission). DAHLMANN, F.C. 1829: “Vita Sancti Anskarii a Rimberto et alio disci