I ambert von Herskeld, or Aschaffenburg, an eminent German historian of the 11th century, was bom, it is supposed by some, at Aschaffenburg, about 1034. In 1058 he entered the convent of Hersfeld, the school of which was at that time one of the most celebrated in (jermany, and in the same year, 1058, was ordained priest. Shoitly after he went on a journey to Jerusa- lem, without the consent or knowledge of the abbot of his convent. After his return in the following year, Lambert devoted himself to literary pursuits, yet as an inmate of the convent which he had entered before his dej)artiire for the Holy Land. He was in great favor among his superiors, as is evinced by the fact that he was sent to visit the convents of Sigeberg and Saalfeld, newh'-established institutions. The precise date of his death is not ascertained — probably about 1080. His ■works, which are numerous, are especially valuable as giving a clear perception of the state of letters in his times. His first ■\vork was a heroic poem, which is now lost. He then wrote a history of the Convent of Hers- feld, which contains vahial)le information for the history of the 11th century, but unfortunately we possess only fragments of this work. These were published by Ma- der from a Wolfenbiittel Codex: comp. Vetustas, siincii- monia, potentia atqne maiesias diicnm Brunsvicensium ac Lynebnrfiensiiim domus (Helmstadt, 16G1-4), p. 150; and again in A ntiqq. h'nnisric. p. 1.50. This same codex was also published by j\I. (!. Waitz, vii, 138-141. His third work is a history of (Jermany in two parts. The second part is the most conijilete. a? well as the most interest- ing: it begins with the reign of Henry IV, and extends to the election of king Rudolf. It is believed by some that this work, treating contemporary events, was writ- ten at different periods, whenever anything occurred which seemed to tlie author important enough to be mentioned. It appears, however, to have been concluded about 10S4. Landiert's works are remarkable for purity of style and elegance- of diction, as well as for learning and accuracy. IVIilman {Ldt. Christianity, x'ui.oSo) says that he occupies as a historian. " if not the first, nearly the first place in mediieval history." Hase {Ch. History, p. 182). however, thinks that Lambert was too little ac- quainted with the ways of the world to make a proper
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chronicler. Speaking of his German history, Hase says that it is "just such a picture of society as might be ex- pected from a pious monk who had matie a pilgrimage to the lioly sepulchre, and looked out upon the world and his nation from the small stained window of his cell." In his allusions to the difKculties which occurred between the temporal and ecclesiastical powers, Lambert shows a rare degree of impartiality, although necessarily yield- ing to some extent to the effects of his position as a monk, as well as of the troubles of the times. Some of his writings were translated into German by Hegewisch, and his whole works by F. B. v, Bucholz (Frankf. 1819) ; also, more recently, by Hesse, in the Gesclikhtschreiher deutscher Vorzeit. d. XT Jahrh. (Berl. 1855, 6 vols.). See Frisch, Comparaiio critica de Lamberti Sch. annal, etc., Diss, inauff. Monachii (1830, 8\-o); Stenze], F?dHl:isc/ie Kaiser, i, 495 , ii, 101 sq. ; Viderit, Conuneitf. de Lamb. Schafiiub. (Hersf. 1828, 4to) ; Hesse, Recension. Jen. Lit. Zeitij. 1830, No. 130 ; Wilman, Otto III Kxhirs, vi, p. 214 ; Hirsch and Waitz, Chr. Corbej. p. 36, Gicsebrecht, An- nides Altahenses (Berlin, 1841); Yloto, Kaiser Ileinrich J I ',■ tiriinhagen, A dalbert v. Bremen, 1854 ; Ranke, .1 bhh. d. Berlin. A kad.xon 1854, p. 430 sq.; WituUeber Benzo (Marburg, 1856); Herzog, Real-Encijklopddie, viii, 166 S([.
Lambert of Maestricht, a martyr and a saint of the Komish Church, commemorated on Sept. 17, was born at Maestricht, Holland, towards the middle of the 7th century ; was educated by Theodard, bishop of that see, whom he succeeded in office when that prelate died a martyr in (JfiS. The major domus Ebroin was then in Avar with the Merovingian dynasty, and persecuted all its supporters. Upon Lambert also fell his displeasure, and he deprived him of his bishopric, and appointed Faramund in his place. Lambert remained for seven years (674-81) in the Convent of Stablo, where he led a life of penitence and humiliation. When Pepin d'Her- istal, after killing Ebroin, became the head of the king- dom, Lambert was restored to his bishopric. The an- cient historians relate that he was killed by a Frankish chieftain named Dodo, out of revenge. Two relatives of Dodo attempted to seize on the goods of the Church, and were killed liy Lambert's nejihew ; Dodo, in return, caused Lambert himself to be murdered at Liege. Sub- sequent writers attempted to render this liistory more interesting. They say that he was murdered by Dodo on account of the freedom with which he reproved Pe- pin d'Heristal for his improper intimacy with AlpaTs, a sister of Dodo. Siegbert of Gemblours and others say that on one occasion he refused at the king's table to bless iVlpais's cup with the sign of the cross, and, seeing that he would be killed for this, he forbade his followers defending him, and said to them, " If >'ou truly love me, love Jesus, and confess your sins to him ; as for me, it is time that I should go to live in communion with him." After saying Avhich, he knelt down, and, while praying for his enemies, was killed with a spear. It was on the 17th of September, 708 (709 according to the Bollan- dists; others say 697 or 698). So great was the venera- tion in which Lambert was held by his contemporaries, that in 714 a church was built in commemoration of him at Liege. His successor in the bishopric was Hubert. Biographies of Lambert were written by Godeschalk, deacon of the Church of Liege in the middle of the 8th century , Stephan, bishop of Liege in 903 , a canon call- ed Nicholas, about 1120; and a monk named lleiner. See A. Butler, Lives of the Saints ; F. W. Kettberg, K. Gesch.Dcutschl.ands, i, 558 sq.; Herzog, Real-EncyHop. viii, 165; Wetzer und Welte, Kirchen-Lex. vi, 323,324.