"Ars moriendi" and figures of power in Adam of Bremen's "Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum"

The aim of this study is to present how death and dying were depicted by Adam of Bremen in his chronicles Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum and to present and analyse death scenes of people associated with various aspects of power. I focus on the interesting issue of how the author depicts the dying of archbishops whom he respects for their accomplishments and attitude, and those who, in his opinion, do not deserve the honour of serving the Church. In my work I also refer to ritual death, the pagan custom of making human sacrifices. The art of dying which can be distinguished in Adam’s Gesta reveals the medieval chronicler’s wide range of experiences and ideas