Orderic Vitalis | |
|---|---|
 Modern plaque commemorating Orderic Vitalis at the Abbey of Saint-Evroul, Normandy | |
| Born | Orderic 16 February 1075 |
| Died | c. 1142 (aged c. 67) |
| Other names | Ordericus Vitalis |
| Occupation(s) | Oblate (1085–1090) Monk (beginning 1090) Subdeacon (1091–1093) Deacon (1093–1107) Priest (beginning 1107) Chronicler |
| Notable work | Historia ecclesiastica (Orderic Vitalis) [la] |
| Father | Odelerius of Orléans |
| Personal | |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Teachers | Siward Jean of Reims |
| Monastic name | Vitalis |
| Organization | |
| Order | Benedictine |
Orderic Vitalis (Latin: Ordericus Vitalis; 16 February 1075 – c. 1142) was an English chronicler and Benedictine monk who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th- and 12th-century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England.[1] Working out of the Abbey of Saint-Evroul, he is credited with writing the Historia Ecclesiastica, a work detailing the history of Europe and the Mediterranean from the birth of Jesus Christ into his own age. The son of a cleric, he was born into a noble family, claiming both English and Norman heritage. While he is known primarily for the Historia Ecclesiastica, he also was able to ascend to various positions within the church including script master, librarian, and cantor. A prolific writer, he addressed various topics in his writings, both religious and secular. Modern historians view him as a reliable source.[1]