Linguaggio, contenuto, autori e destinatari nella Langobardia meridionale. Il caso della cosiddetta dedica della Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum di Erchemperto

This article challenges the assertion that the anonymous dedicatory poem-addressed to Aio (884-891), the prince of Benevento-represents the proem of the Cassinese monk Erchempert’s Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum (ca. late 9th c.). First, the linguistic and stylistic differences between the two works far outnumber the supposed similarities. This indicates that the author of the carmen possessed a deeper understanding of Latin than the chronicler. The principle discrepancy, however, lies in that in the dedication Aio’s talents are extolled-describing him as the initiator of a new shining era-whereas, in the chronicle, although not condemning Aio, Erchempert’s tone is not overly laudatory. If the Cassinese monk truly is the author of the poetic composition, then he wrote it with such a style and intent that it would be a direct departure from the tone of the Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum.