Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham

Last updated
Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham
Evesham Chronicle
Author(s) Thomas of Marlborough
Dominic of Evesham
Compiled by Thomas of Marlborough
Dominic of Evesham
Date714–1539
Provenance Evesham Abbey

The Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham or Chronicle of the Abbey of Evesham, sometimes the Evesham Chronicle, is a medieval chronicle written at and about Evesham Abbey in Worcestershire in western England.

Contents

Contents and authorship

It covers the history of the abbey from 714 to 1539, and the early sections from 714 to 1214 were probably mostly composed by Thomas of Marlborough, who was abbot from 1230 to 1236. An unknown continuator brought the work down to 1418. [1] The earliest parts of the chronicle concern St. Egwin, and were probably written by a prior of the house, Dominic, sometime before 1125. [2] Egwin was a bishop of Worcester who died in 717. [1] Also included in the Chronicon is a narrative of the translation of the relics of St Odulph, and the life of St Wigstan. [3]

The historian R. R. Darlington felt that the account of Abbot Æthelwig that is part of the chronicle was not written by Thomas, and instead was written shortly after Æthelwig's death, [2] which occurred in 1077 [4] or 1078. [5] The historian David Knowles felt that the account of Æthelwig was written instead by Dominic, but concurred with Darlington that the section was not composed by Thomas. [2] Yet another continuator extended the history of the abbots until 1539. [3]

Printing history

The Chronicon has been printed a number of times, once in 1863 in the Rolls Series, edited by William Dunn Macray. [1] This edition, number 29 in the Rolls Series, is titled Chronicon abbatiae de Evesham, ad annum 1418, but it includes the continuation until 1539. [3] Extracts from the period 1035 to 1236 were edited by Liebermann in the Monumenta Germaniae Historica . Another version, with the continuation down to 1539, was published in 1965 by the Vale of Evesham Historical Society. [1] A new edition with facing translation by Jane Sayers and Leslie Watkiss was published in 2003.

Editions

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Graves Bibliography p. 841
  2. 1 2 3 Knowles Monastic Order pp. 704–705
  3. 1 2 3 Mullins Texts and Calendars I p. 47
  4. Knowles, et al. Heads of Religious Houses p. 47
  5. Knowles Heads of Religious Houses p. 248

Related Research Articles

<i>Croyland Chronicle</i> Primary source for English medieval history

The Croyland Chronicle, also called Crowland Chronicle, is an important primary source for English medieval history, particularly the late 15th century. It is named for its place of origin, the Benedictine Abbey of Croyland or Crowland, in Lincolnshire, England. It was formerly also known as the Chronicle of Ingulf or Ingulphus after its supposed original compiler, the 11th-century abbot Ingulf. As that section of the text is now known to have been a later forgery, its author is instead known as Pseudo-Ingulf. The validity of the source itself has been questioned, partially due to the unknown identity of the original author, and gaps in all continuations of the text. There has also been substantially little effort made to find and translate the original manuscript.

Thomas Walsingham was an English chronicler, and is the source of much of the knowledge of the reigns of Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V and the latter reign of Edward III depicting the decline of the state of affairs of the English. He also documented the careers of John Wycliff and Wat Tyler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evesham</span> Human settlement in England

Evesham is a market town and parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon. It lies within the Vale of Evesham, an area comprising the flood plain of the River Avon, which has been renowned for market gardening. The town centre, situated within a meander of the river, is subjected regularly to flooding. The 2007 floods were the most severe in recorded history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evesham Abbey</span> Ruined Benedictine abbey in Worcestershire England

Evesham Abbey was founded by Saint Egwin at Evesham in Worcestershire, England between 700 and 710 following an alleged vision of the Virgin Mary by a swineherd by the name of Eof.

Wigstan, also known as Saint Wystan, was the son of Wigmund of Mercia and Ælfflæd, daughter of King Ceolwulf I of Mercia.

Ralph of Coggeshall, English chronicler, was at first a monk and afterwards sixth abbot (1207–1218) of Coggeshall Abbey, an Essex foundation of the Cistercian order. He is also known for his chronicles on the Third Crusade and of Gerard of Ridefort.

<i>Knightons Chronicon</i> 14th-century historical account written by Henry Knighton in Leicester

Knighton's Chronicon is an English chronicle written by Henry Knighton in the fourteenth century. He referred to it as his "work in hand" that he wrote while at the Augustinian Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis, associated with the House of Lancaster, where he was a canon.

Æthelgar was Archbishop of Canterbury, and previously Bishop of Selsey.

Spearhafoc was an eleventh-century Anglo-Saxon artist and Benedictine monk, whose artistic talent was apparently the cause of his rapid elevation to Abbot of Abingdon in 1047–48 and Bishop-Elect of London in 1051. After his consecration as bishop was thwarted, he vanished with the gold and jewels he had been given to make into a crown for King Edward the Confessor, and was never seen again. He was also famous for a miracle which impacted his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowland Abbey</span> Church in the English county of Lincolnshire

Crowland Abbey is a Church of England parish church, formerly part of a Benedictine abbey church, in Crowland in the English county of Lincolnshire. It is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter the Deacon</span> 12th century Italian monk, librarian and chronicler

Peter the Deacon was the librarian of the abbey of Montecassino and continuator of the Chronicon monasterii Casinensis, usually called the Monte Cassino Chronicle in English. The chronicle was originally written by Leo of Ostia. According to both Chalandon and Lord Norwich, Peter is a poor historian and writer, much inferior to Leo.

Æthelwig was an Abbot of Evesham before and during the Norman Conquest of England. Born sometime around 1010 or 1015, he was elected abbot in 1058. Known for his legal expertise, he administered estates for Ealdred, the Bishop of Worcester prior to his election as abbot. After his election, he appears to have acted as Ealdred's deputy, and was considered as a possible successor when Ealdred was elected Archbishop of York. Æthelwig worked during his abbacy to recover estates that had been lost to Evesham, as well as acquiring more estates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic of Evesham</span> 12th-century monk, Prior of Evesham Abbey, and writer

Dominic of Evesham was a medieval prior of Evesham Abbey in England and writer of religious texts. Probably a native Englishman, there is some confusion about when he became a monk, but by 1104 he was at Evesham and by 1125 he held the office of prior. He is chiefly known for his religious works, including one on the miracles of the Virgin Mary that was an important source for later writings on the subject. Four of his works are still extant.

<i>Hemmings Cartulary</i> 11th century English manuscript

Hemming's Cartulary is a manuscript cartulary, or collection of charters and other land records, collected by a monk named Hemming around the time of the Norman Conquest of England. The manuscript comprises two separate cartularies that were made at different times and later bound together; it is in the British Library as MS Cotton Tiberius A xiii. The first was composed at the end of the 10th or beginning of the 11th century. The second section was compiled by Hemming and was written around the end of the 11th or the beginning of the 12th century. The first section, traditionally titled the Liber Wigorniensis, is a collection of Anglo-Saxon charters and other land records, most of which are organized geographically. The second section, Hemming's Cartulary proper, combines charters and other land records with a narrative of deprivation of property owned by the church of Worcester.

Thomas of Marlborough was a medieval English monk and writer. He became abbot of Evesham Abbey in 1230.

The Historia Ecclesie Abbendonensis or History of the Church of Abingdon was a medieval chronicle written at Abingdon Abbey in England in the 12th century. The Abbey was historically in the county of Berkshire, but since 1974 has been in the county of Oxfordshire.

Germanus was a medieval English abbot and Benedictine monk. He travelled to Rome in about 957 and became a monk at Fleury Abbey in France. Back in England by 964 he served as a monastic official before being named abbot of Winchcombe Abbey in about 970, a position he was removed from in 975. Germanus may have become abbot of Cholsey Abbey in 992.

Roger Norreis was Abbot of Evesham in England. He was a controversial figure, installed in several offices against opposition. In his appointment to Evesham, he was accused of immoral behaviour and failing to follow monastic rules. In 1202, Norreis became embroiled in a dispute with his monks and his episcopal superior the Bishop of Worcester; litigation and argumentation lasted until his deposition in 1213. He was then appointed prior of a subsidiary monastic house of Evesham, but was deposed within months, then re-appointed to the office five years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odulf</span>

Odwulf of Evesham was a ninth century saint, monk and Frisian missionary.

Walter, Abbot of Evesham or Walter de Cerisy, Gauthier de Cerisy was an 11th-century abbot and church leader in England under the Norman conquest. He is known from the Domesday Book and several legal documents.

References

Further reading