The Monte Cassino Tradition of the First Crusade: From the Chronica Monasterii Casinensis to the Hystoria de via et recuperatione Antiochiae atque Ierusolymarum

This paper aims to analyze the historiographichal production of Montecassino abbey and its reflections in first crusade's history during the XIIth century. Analyzing the Chronica Monasterii Casinensis [ed. H. Hoffmann, M.G.H., SS, XXXIV, Hannover 1980] and arriving to the Hystoria de via et recuperatione Antiochiae atque Ierusolymarum [ed. E. D’Angelo, Firenze 2009], a new history of the first crusade assembled in XIIth century, it's possible to detach an increasing interest in the Italian abbey for reconstructing the history of Christian conquest of Jerusalem. Our intention is to show methodological implications to broadening of our sources, in connection with the acknowledgement of significance to single out cultural environments that produce historical texts like these. Particular attention will be given to the study of the texts’ structures and their narrative techniques, in order to show new approaches to the crusading history, and to skip the simple exposition of events.