Carey, William, ed., De Ortu et Tempore Antichristi (The Latin Library Website, 2004). View Source Online

Text name(s): De Ortu et Tempore Antichristi; On the Origin and Time of the Antichrist

Number of pages of primary source text: 0

Medieval Author(s): Adso of Montier-en-Der

Dates: 949 - 954

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Original Language(s): Latin;

Translation: Original language included.

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Geopolitical Region(s): Europe; France;

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Comments:

Adso was the abbot of Montier-en-Der. He wrote several saints’ lives and other texts, but his most important and influential work is his treatise on the Antichrist. It was written at the request of Queen Gerberga, wife of King Lothar and sister of Otto the Great. His answer to her inquiries about the coming of the Antichrist takes the form of a saint’s life. The text summarizes the contemporary legends about the Antichrist in a very accessible way. Adso also defined the idea of “The Last World Emperor” in this text: the last world emperor will unite all Christians and defeat the Muslims, paving the way for the Antichrist to come. This idea had a major influence on Apocalyptism throughout the rest of the Middle Ages. The Latin text, with no introductory material or scholarly apparatus, can be found on the Latin Library website.

Introduction Summary:

Cataloger: MK