Albert of Aix

ALBERT OF AIX: A historian of the twelfth century, designated in the manuscript of his Historia expeditionis Hierosolymitanæ as canonicus Aquensis, but whether he was a canon of Aix in Provence or of Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) is uncertain. It is likely, however, since he dates events by the years of Henry IV., that he was a Lorrainer rather than a Provençal. He may be the custos Adalbertus who is mentioned for the last time in 1192, and, in this case, he must have written his history in early youth. His work tells nothing of his personality, except that he had an ardent desire, which was never fulfilled, to visit the Holy Land. As a sort of compensation, he determined to write the events of the years 1095-1121 from the narratives of actual crusaders. His credibility was generally accepted until the middle of the nineteenth century, but since then it has been seriously questioned. It is probable that the work is based upon mere hearsay. The Historia is in MPL, clxvi., and in Recueil des historiens des Croisades, hist. occid., iv. (Paris, 1879) 265-713.

(A. Hauck).

Bibliography: H. von Sybel, Geschichte des ersten Kreuzzugs, pp. 62-107, Leipsic, 1881; B. Kugler, Albert von Aachen, Stuttgart, 1885; F. Vercruysse, Essai critique sur la chronique d’Albert d’Aix, Liége, 1889; Wattenbuch, DGQ, ii. 178-180.