Reading Annals...

Dear Reader, when reading history- even of one's own peoples- finding sources that are credible and perhaps less slanted and politicized. Various accounts written by individuals  can be directed to make some events and individuals look better or worse than they are. But occasionally you'll find a source that is about as straight as they come- temperate, even perhaps dispassionate. Official chronicles often fit this category, as well as annals. The annals of a court or abbey are general records, not unlike a diary, but written as official records for a larger entity. The Royal Frankish Annals are an example, as well as the Annals of Lorsch, the Metz Annals, etc. I recently finished reading the Annals of Fulda 

(translated by Timothy Reuter- The Annals of Fulda: Ninth-Century Histories, Volume II, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 1992.),

 and I'm currently reading through the Annals of St-Bertin 

(translated by Janet Nelson- The Annals of St-Bertin: Ninth-Century Histories, Volume I, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 1991.). 

There are accounts of major political events, as well as happenings closer to home, observation of holy days and festivals, and an aide-memoire of daily happenings. Often the individual writer is unknown, though they do occasionally drop their name as they work. We can also see changes in the narrator simply by the hand they're written in, with different styles and clarity.

Some annals are more interesting than others, and some can be very dry. But minor scandals, the sort that might be of great interest to a particular abbey or town, might not make the Royal Annals, but play a big part in local accounts. For instance, I found mention recently in the Annals of St-Bertin of an abbot who left the Church and converted to Judaism, creating quite a furor, and it was the first I'd heard of such happenings. 

Annals are cool.

I'm also finding them to be a rich source of personal names- not just of Franks, but of surrounding areas, even Saracens and Danes. I plan to strip-mine some of these and pass the sources on to the local heralds, who might find them of use.

So if you're digging around, researching a particular time or place, take a look at the official Annals. They hold a wealth of information, and may surprise you!