Ethics, Politics, and Providence in William Of Malmesbury’s Historia Novella

Abstract

The article discusses historical interpretation in William of Malmesbury’s Historia Novella. In contrast to some earlier scholars, the author concludes that William’s perspective is consistently religious and ethical. William’s narrative and selection of facts are intended to show that Mathilda is the only lawful candidate to the English throne and that this is the reason for Earl Robert of Gloucester, William’s patron, to support her. In his preface, written shortly after Mathilda’s and Robert’s apparent victory in 1141, William explains this victory as the result of God’s intervention. However, the setback later the same year forced him to change this interpretation. He now turns to fortuna as the explanation in the preface to Book 3, while making Robert’s defeat into a victory by pointing to his noble behavior in adversity. Finally, the relationship between God’s providence and fortuna in William’s text is discussed against the background of some contemporary examples.