Spring 2006

HUMS 644
Murder in the 12th Century: Assassinations of Bishop Gaudry, Charles of Flanders, & Thomas Becket

Rider,Jeff

01/23/2006 - 05/06/2006
Thursday 06:00 PM - 08:30 PM

Romance Languages 106

This course will study three assassinations of the 12th century: that of Bishop Gaudry of Laon in 1112, that of Count Charles of Flanders in 1127, and that of Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury in 1170. We will study these assassinations and the manifold issues they raise through the various contemporary historical accounts of the murders and their consequences. Another of our goals will thus be to recognize and investigate the ways in which historical works render actions intelligible and meaningful.

The readings will include: Guibert of Nogent, Memoirs; Suger, The Deeds of Louis the Fat; Herman of Tournai, The Restoration of the Monastery of Saint Martin of Tournai; Walter of Therouanne, The Life of Charles The Good; Galbert of Bruges, The Murder of Charles the Good; Guernes of Pont-Sainte-Maxence, The Life of Saint Thomas the Martyr of Canterbury; Edward Grim, The Life of Saint Thomas; John of Salisbury, The Life of Saint Thomas.

Students will write three short papers (5-7 pages) or one longer one.

This course may, by petition, count toward the social sciences concentration.

A syllabus for this course is available at:
Course Syllabus


Jeff Rider (B.A. Yale University; Diplome d'Etudes Medievales, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Belgium; M.A., Ph.D. University of Chicago) is professor of romance languages and literatures and chair of the Medieval Studies Program. He is a specialist in the history and literature of northern Europe from the 11th through the 13th centuries. His work has focused on the Arthurian legend and the history of northern France in the twelfth century. He has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Commission, the American Philosophical Society, and the Rotary Foundation. He is currently at work on a variety of projects including a book on Chretien de Troyes, an edition of a thirteenth-century French narrative poem, and a translation of a twelfth-century journal describing the assassination of the count of Flanders in 1127. Click here for more information about Jeff Rider and here for more information about his work.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Consent of Instructor Required: No

Format: Seminar

Level: GLSP Credits: 3 Enrollment Limit: 18

Texts to purchase for this course:
Galbert of Bruges, THE MURDER OF CHARLES THE GOOD, COUNT OF FLANDERS (Columbia University Press), Paperback

Guibert of Nogent, A MONK'S CONFESSION: THE MEMOIRS OF GUIBERT OF NOGENT (Pennsylvania State University Press), Paperback

READING MATERIALS AVAILABLE AT BROAD STREET BOOKS, 45 BROAD STREET, MIDDLETOWN, 860-685-7323

Register for Courses



Contact glsinquire@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. 
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459

How to Register

Current Term

      Fall 2011

Upcoming Terms

       Spring 2012

Previous Semesters