Historia Regum
Encyclopedia
The Historia Regum is a historical compilation attributed to Symeon of Durham
, which presents material going from the death of Bede
until 1129. It survives only in one manuscript compiled in Yorkshire in the mid-to-late 12th century, though the material is earlier. It is an often-used source for medieval English and Northumbrian history.
or anything else. Antonia Gransden and David Rollason list its sources as follows:
Much of the compiled material up until 887, i.e. the first five sections, was itself probably derived from an earlier compilation by Byrhtferth of Ramsey, and probably some of it was compiled before the end of the 10th century. The material covering 1119—1129 does appear to be original, and this part may have been authored by Symeon.
and an explicit
, Symeon's authorship of the work is nevertheless doubted or thought to be spurious by modern historians. Besides not being an original historical work, reasons of internal evidence make it highly unlikely that the Historia Regum was written by the same author as the Libellus de Exordio, and the latter is thought by its latest editor to have been authored by Symeon.
and R. I. Moore. London: Hambledon Press, 1985. 317 ff.
Symeon of Durham
Symeon of Durham was an English chronicler and a monk of Durham Priory. When William of Saint-Calais returned from his Norman exile in 1091, Symeon was probably in his company...
, which presents material going from the death of Bede
Bede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
until 1129. It survives only in one manuscript compiled in Yorkshire in the mid-to-late 12th century, though the material is earlier. It is an often-used source for medieval English and Northumbrian history.
Sources
It is a "historical compilation" or a "historical collection" rather than a chronicleChronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
or anything else. Antonia Gransden and David Rollason list its sources as follows:
| folios | pages | Description | |
| 1. | 51v-54v | 3-13 | The Kentish Royal Legend, i.e. 7th- and 8th- century Kentish legends, including that of the martyr princes Æthelberht and Æthelred. |
| 2. | 54v-55r | 13-5 | An early list of Northumbrian rulers, from Ida of Bernicia Ida of Bernicia Ida is the first known king of the Anglian kingdom of Bernicia, which he ruled from around 547 until his death in 559. Little is known of his life or reign, but he was regarded as the founder of a line from which later Anglo-Saxon kings in this part of northern England and southern Scotland... to Ceolwulf of Northumbria Ceolwulf of Northumbria Ceolwulf was king of Northumbria from 729 until 737, except for a short period in 731 or 732 when he was deposed, and quickly restored to power. Ceolwulf finally abdicated and entered the monastery at Lindisfarne. He was the "most glorious king" to whom Bede dedicated his Historia ecclesiastica... (d. 737), stylistically embellished and supplemented by two citations from Boethius. |
| 3. | 55r-58v | 15-30 | Material from Bede Bede Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria... , including Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum The Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum is a work in Latin by Bede on the history of the Christian Churches in England, and of England generally; its main focus is on the conflict between Roman and Celtic Christianity.It is considered to be one of the most important original references on... and especially Historia abbatum. |
| 4. | 58v-68v | 28/30-68 | Lost Northumbrian annals covering 732—802. |
| 5. | 68v-75r | 69-91 | Annals covering 849—887, derived mainly from Asser Asser Asser was a Welsh monk from St David's, Dyfed, who became Bishop of Sherborne in the 890s. About 885 he was asked by Alfred the Great to leave St David's and join the circle of learned men whom Alfred was recruiting for his court... 's Life of King Alfred. |
| 6. | 75r-76r | 91-5 | A series of annals written after 1042 covering 888—957. |
| 7. | 76r-76v | 95-8 | Extracts taken from William of Malmesbury William of Malmesbury William of Malmesbury was the foremost English historian of the 12th century. C. Warren Hollister so ranks him among the most talented generation of writers of history since Bede, "a gifted historical scholar and an omnivorous reader, impressively well versed in the literature of classical,... 's Gesta Regum |
| 8. | 76v-123v | 98-258 | Material from the Chronicle of John of Worcester John of Worcester John of Worcester was an English monk and chronicler. He is usually held to be the author of the Chronicon ex chronicis.-Chronicon ex chronicis:... . supplemented by a now lost "Northern" recension Recension Recension is the practice of editing or revising a text based on critical analysis. When referring to manuscripts, this may be a revision by another author... of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Anglo-Saxon Chronicle The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great... related to the extant D-recension, by the Libellus de Exordio Libellus de exordio The Libellus de exordio atque procursu istius, hoc est Dunhelmensis, ecclesie , in short Libellus de exordio, is a historical work of marked literary character composed and compiled in the early 12th-century and traditionally attributed to Symeon of Durham... , by the Historia Novorum of Eadmer Eadmer Eadmer, or Edmer , was an English historian, theologian, and ecclesiastic. He is known for being a contemporary biographer of his contemporary archbishop and companion, Saint Anselm, in his Vita Anselmi, and for his Historia novorum in Anglia, which presents the public face of Anselm... , by Dudo of St Quentin and by William of Jumièges William of Jumièges William of Jumièges was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of our earliest writers on the subject of the Norman Conquest. He is himself a "shadowy figure", only known by his dedicatory letter to King William as a monk of Jumièges... . |
| 9. | 123v-129v | 258-83 | A chronicle covering the period 1119—1129. |
Much of the compiled material up until 887, i.e. the first five sections, was itself probably derived from an earlier compilation by Byrhtferth of Ramsey, and probably some of it was compiled before the end of the 10th century. The material covering 1119—1129 does appear to be original, and this part may have been authored by Symeon.
Provenance
The text survives in one manuscript, Corpus Christi College Cambridge, MS 139, folios 51v-129v, written down in the late 12th century. Even though this manuscript names Symeon as the author in an incipitIncipit
Incipit is a Latin word meaning "it begins". The incipit of a text, such as a poem, song, or book, is the first few words of its opening line. In music, it can also refer to the opening notes of a composition. Before the development of titles, texts were often referred to by their incipits...
and an explicit
Explicit
Explicit can mean:* Sexually explicit, content that might be deemed offensive or graphic* the final words of a text, which are immediately followed by a colophon...
, Symeon's authorship of the work is nevertheless doubted or thought to be spurious by modern historians. Besides not being an original historical work, reasons of internal evidence make it highly unlikely that the Historia Regum was written by the same author as the Libellus de Exordio, and the latter is thought by its latest editor to have been authored by Symeon.
Editions
- Stevenson, Joseph (tr.). Church Historians of England. 8 vols: vol. 4 (part 2: The Historical Works of Simeon of Durham). London, 1853. 425-617.
- Arnold, Thomas (ed.). Symeonis Monachi Opera Omnia. 2 vols: vol 2. London, 1885. 1-283.
- Hart, Cyril R. (ed. and tr.). Byrhtferth’s Northumbrian Chronicle: An Edition and Translation of the Old English and Latin Annals. The Early Chronicles of England 2. Edwin Mellen Press, 2006. Edition and translation of the first five sections.
Further reading
Reprinted in Studies in Medieval History presented to R. H. C. Davis, ed. Henry Mayr-HartingHenry Mayr-Harting
Professor Henry Maria Robert Egmont Mayr-Harting was Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of Oxford and Lay Canon of Christ Church, Oxford from 1997 until 2003....
and R. I. Moore. London: Hambledon Press, 1985. 317 ff.