The incident was part of a general growth of enthusiasm for relic cults in the early decades of the eleventh century in the kingdom of France. That revival was in part connected to apocalyptic expectations and to the movement known as the Peace of God. The source for this story is Ademar of Chabannes, Chronicon , book 3, chap. We have followed Ademar's final version, which is listed as the C text by Chavanon. Note that a new edition of the text of Ademar by Landes will soon appear from Corpus Christianorum.
Some explanatory notes follow the text.
It was said that the holy head was actually that of John the Baptist. When Duke William heard this on his return from Rome after Easter, he was filled with joy and decreed that the holy head should be shown to the people. In the history of King Pippin, where one is able to read about even the most minor details, there is no mention of such an event, which would have been of the greatest importance. The liturgical reading which has been composed to commemorate the translation will not be judged by learned people as other than futile. But Pippin did not live in the days of archbishop Theophilus nor in the time of the Vandals, nor was the head of the herald of the Lord enshrined in Alexandria.