Chronica Majora

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Title:	Chronica Majora
Authors:	Paris, Matthew
Keywords:	Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem -- History Paris, Matthew, 1200-1259
Issue Date:	1253
Abstract:	The Chronica Majora is an important medieval illuminated manuscript chronicle written in Latin. The work begins with the creation of the world and contains annals up to 1259, the year of Paris's death.
Description:	Chronica Majora. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Mss 26 and 16, 362 x 244/248 mm. ff 141 + 281, composed 1240-1253 Translated in: J.A. Giles [translator]. Matthew Paris’s English History from the year 1235 to 1273. H.G. Bohn, London, 1853, Vol.II:p.406,409; J.A. Giles [translator]. Matthew Paris’s English History from the year 1235 to 1273. H.G. Bohn, London, 1854, Vol. III: p.327-328 Chronica Majora. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Mss 26 and 16, 362 x 244/248 mm. ff 141 + 281, composed 1240-53. His major historical work, but less heavily illustrated per page than others. These two volumes contain annals from the creation of the world up to the year 1253. The content up to 1234 or 1235 is based in the main on Roger of Wendover's Flores Historiarum, with additions; after that date the material is Paris's own, and written in his own hand from the annal for 1213 onward. There are 100 marginal drawings (25 + 75), some fragmentary maps and an itinerary, and full-page drawings of William I and the Elephant with Keeper. MS 16 has very recently had all prefatory matter re-bound separately. A continuation of the Chronica, from 1254 until Paris's death in 1259, is bound with the Historia Anglorum in the British Library volume. An unillustrated copy of the material from 1189 to 1250, with much of his sharper commentary about Henry III toned down or removed, was supervised by Paris himself and now exists as British Library Cotton MS Nero D V, fol. 162-393 Historia Anglorum. British Library, Royal MS 14 C VII, fols. 8v–156v.[6] 358 x 250 mm, ff 232 in all. A history of England, begun in 1250 and perhaps completed around 1255, covering the years 1070-1253. The text is an abridgement of the Chronica, also drawing on Wendover's Flores Historiarum and Paris's earlier edited version of the Chronica. Bound with it is the final part of Paris's Chronica Majora, covering the years 1254-1259 (folios 157-218), and prefatory material including an itinerary from London to Jerusalem and tinted drawings of the kings of England. All is in Paris's own hand, apart from folios 210-218 and 154v-156v, which are in a hand of the scribe who has added a note of Matthew Paris's death (f. 218v). The Chronica concludes with a portrait of Paris on his death-bed, presumably not by him. By the 15th century this volume belonged to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, son of Henry IV, who inscribed it "Ceste livre est a moy Homffrey Duc de Gloucestre". Later it was held by the bishop of Lincoln, who wrote a note that if the monks of St Albans could prove the book was a loan, they should have it back. Otherwise it was bequeathed to New College, Oxford. The fact that the book was acquired by a 16th-century Earl of Arundel suggests that Duke Humphrey's inscription was not entirely accurate, as New College would probably not have disposed of it. .A. Giles [translator]. Matthew Paris’s English History from the year 1235 to 1273. H.G. Bohn, London, 1853, Vol.II:p.406,409 J.A. Giles [translator]. Matthew Paris’s English History from the year 1235 to 1273. H.G. Bohn, London, 1854, Vol. III: p.327-328
URI:	https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/2412
Appears in Collections:	Documents - 12th-14th century - OSL - ERC

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