Anselm of Liège

Who was Anselm of Liège?

Anselm of Liège was a chronicler of the eleventh century of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

He was educated at the episcopal school of Liège, and became canon and dean of the cathedral, where he enjoyed the friendship of the bishop of Liège, Wazo. His chronicle, regarded as one of the best of the period, both for literary merit and for historical value, is known as the Gesta Episcoporum Tungrensium, Trajectensium, et Leodiensium, and is a continuation of the earlier work of Heriger of Lobbes. That had dealt with the first twenty-seven bishops, from St. Maternus to Remaclus. Anselm's work, written at the request of his godmother, the countess Ida, Abbess of St. Cecilia, Cologne, added the lives of twenty-five more bishops, down to Wazo, of whom he gave a very full and particular account.

The "Gesta" is to be found in the Monumenta Germaniæ Historica. Anselm's style is clear, and his zeal for church reform is equalled by his critical intelligence.