Raoul Glaber 613a fragment of the True Cross in 569. As the renamed
Monastery of the Holy Cross, it adopted the monastic rule
of Caesarius of Arles (469/470–542) to guide the life of
the 200 nuns who eventually joined. After her death there
on August 13, 587, MIRACLESbegan to occur, and the
monastery became an important place of pilgrimage.
Further reading: Venantius Fortunatus, Venantius
Fortunatus: Personal and Political Poems, trans. Judith
George (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1995);
Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks,trans. Ernest Bre-
haut (1916; reprint, New York, Octagon Books, 1965); Jo
Ann McNamara, John E. Halborg, and E. Gordon What-
ley, eds. and trans., Sainted Women of the Dark Ages
(Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 1992), 70–105;
Yitzhak Hen, Culture and Religion in Merovingian Gaul,
A.D. 481–751(Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1995); Raymond Van
Dam, Saints and Their Miracles in Late Antique Gaul
(Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1993); Ian
N. Wood, The Merovingian Kingdoms, 450–751(London:
Longman, 1994).
Ragusa SeeDUBROVNIK.
Ramadan(Sawm, Siyam) Ramadan is the ninth month
of the Muslim lunar calendar and occurs at different times
of the Western calendar year. It was to be a period of FAST-
ING, the fourth pillar of ISLAM. All eating, drinking, and
sexual activity were forbidden from sunrise to sunset. All
who had reached puberty and were in full possession of
their senses were bound to observe it. The sick, elderly,
travelers, and women who were breast-feeding, were men-
struating, or had just given birth were excused. They were
to compensate for not fasting by performing an equal
number of days of fasting later. The ensuing sense of
bodily deprivation was to make Muslims aware of their
dependence on God for life. After sunset, there were tradi-
tionally joyful festivals and feasting. The QURANwas sup-
posedly first revealed in this month.
Further reading: K. Wagtendonk, Fasting in the
Koran (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1968); Gustave von
Grunebaum, Muhammadan Festivals (New York: Schu-
man, 1951); M. Plessner, “Ramadan,” Encyclopedia of
Islam,8:417–418.
Rambam SeeMAIMONIDES,MOSES; NACHMANIDES, MOSES.
Ranulf de Glanville (d. 1190)English author, judicial
official, adviser to King Henry II
The Anglo-Norman Ranulf was born in Stratford in Suf-
folk. He entered royal government, rising to the rank of
sheriff. He demonstrated his loyalty and his competence
to King HENRYII by his defense of the north during the
rebellion of 1173–74. He even captured King WILLIAMI
the LIONof SCOTLANDnear Alnwick in Northumberland.
When Henry went to FRANCE, he so trusted Ranulf that he
appointed him as justiciar to act in his place in ENGLAND.
In this capacity Ranulf succeeded Richard de Lucy (d.
1179) in 1179; he held the post until 1189, when RICHARD
I LIONHEARTremoved him from office and imprisoned
him. He was released on the payment of a ransom of
15,000 pounds and went with Richard on the Third CRU-
SADE, dying on the way at ACREin 1190.
Ranulf’s fame rests on the work traditionally
attributed to him, Treatise Concerning the Laws and Cus-
toms of England,published in about 1188. There is some
speculation that it was written by his nephew and secre-
tary Hubert Walter (d. 1205). Based on his experience
and knowledge of statutes, it was a manual and descrip-
tion in commentary format for the practice, procedures,
and principles of the royal courts. It broadened and clari-
fied common law by distinguishing it from canon and
feudal law by means of specific examples. He further dis-
tinguished between criminal and civil cases and
explained the function of royal writs. His goal was effec-
tive law enforcement by means of specific, impartial royal
orders to overcome conflicting jurisdictions and to ensure
the efficient maintenance of the king’s peace. Ranulf’s
Treatiseconsolidated the position of common law for tri-
als as against feudal, canon, and Roman legal systems and
courts.
Further reading:Ranulf de Glanville, The Treatise on
the Laws and Customs of the Realm of England, Commonly
Called Glanvill, ed. and trans. G. D. G. Hall (1965;
reprint, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998); John H. Baker,
An Introduction to English Legal History,3d ed. (London:
Butterworth’s, 1990); S. F. C. Milsom, Historical Founda-
tions of the Common Law,2d ed. (London: Butterworth’s,
1981); W. L. Warren, Henry II(Berkeley: University of
California Press, 1973).Raoul Glaber (Rodulphus Glaber, the Bald)(ca.
985–ca. 1047)French monk, historian
Born about 985, Raoul was probably of Burgundian
origin. In his youth he entered the monastery of Saint-
Germain at Auxerre, where he was educated in the tradi-
tions of the CAROLINGIAN RENAISSANCE. Somewhat
unstable, he moved frequently from monastic house to
monastic house. He was attached to William of Volpiano
(962–1031) at Dijon and became a disciple of Saint Maio-
lus (ca. 909–994) and Saint ODILO, abbots of CLUNY. At
Cluny, he began a Universal History,which he finished
shortly before his death at Saint-Germain d’Auxerre in- It was an account of events and legends that hap-
pened around the millennium or, between 1000 and - Although he was not very critical of his sources, it
was a valuable and rare source for the early 11th century.
It was accompanied by a meditation on the order of the
world, reflecting the ideas of AMBROSE OF MILAN and
Maximus Confessor (580–662).