Albert of Aix

Albert of Aix, also known as Albert of Aachen, was a prominent chronicler and historian who flourished around the year 1100. Born in the latter part of the eleventh century, he became a canon and custos of the church of Aachen, dedicating his life to the documentation of significant historical events.

His most notable work, the Historia Hierosolymitanae expeditionis, or Chronicon Hierosolymitanum de bello sacro, is a comprehensive history of the First Crusade and the early Kingdom of Jerusalem. Composed in Latin between the years 1125 and 1150, this twelve-book chronicle begins with the Council of Clermont in 1095 and chronicles the events of the First Crusade, concluding somewhat abruptly in 1121.

Albert's history gained considerable recognition during the Middle Ages, serving as a vital source for later historians, including William of Tyre. While its historical accuracy has faced scrutiny in modern scholarship, many historians, including Edward Gibbon, once accepted it as a reliable account of the First Crusade, despite its inclusion of legendary elements.

Although Albert never set foot in the Holy Land, he engaged extensively with returning crusaders, gathering firsthand accounts and valuable correspondence. His independent interviews, particularly with survivors of the Battle of Ramla, set his work apart from other chronicles of the time, as he did not rely on the Gesta Francorum. His history was first published in Helmstedt in fifteen eighty-four, with modern editions available in both Latin and English.