Historical Bible
Encyclopedia
The Bible Historiale was the predominant medieval translation of the Bible
into French. It translates from the Latin Vulgate
significant portions from the Bible accompanied by selections from the Historia Scholastica
by Peter Comestor (d. c. 1178), a literal-historical commentary that summarizes and interprets episodes from the historical books of the Bible and situates them chronologically with respect to events from pagan history and mythology.
. Describing his own role as translating and "ordering" the text, Guyart censored or omitted portions of the Bible that "should not, according to reason, be translated," rearranged materials "so that the laity might find them better ordered" and, on rare occasions, added further commentaries of his own or from other sources to produce the work known as the Bible Historiale.
s, of which more than a hundred survive, most of them richly illuminated
, some with more than 300 miniatures. Genesis is typically especially heavily illustrated. In this respect, it is similar to other vernacular medieval redactions of the Bible
such as the Bible moralisée
, Biblia pauperum
and Speculum Humanae Salvationis
; it differed from these, however, in containing extended direct translations from the Bible. The French name is usually used in English, at least partly because scholars differ as to whether "Historiale" should be translated as "historical" or "historiated" (illustrated).
Contents vary tremendously among manuscript
copies. Guyart did not translate the entire Bible; he seems to have only treated the historical books of the Bible, abridged versions of Job
and Proverbs
and the combined Gospels, based on Peter Comestor's Historia Evangelica. As early as 1317, however, Paris book shops began adding books from other translations--mainly the one known as the Thirteenth-Century Bible or the University of Paris Bible--to expand the French Bible over several stages to conform to the canonical Vulgate
. Samuel Berger categorized the manuscripts into four main families according to their contents, although many fifteenth-century copies resist categorization for their inclusion of new glosses, prologues and other additions from a variety of sources; these have been further categorized and described by Clive Sneddon. One manuscript, London, British Library Royal MS 19 D III, includes some apocryphal stories whose translation is also attributed to Guyart.
Some of the most lavish 14th and early 15th century manuscripts are luxury copies commissioned by bibliophile magnates or royalty; John, Duke of Berry
owned at least eight, with other notable patrons including Mahaut, Countess of Artois
, Joan III, Countess of Burgundy, and several kings of France, including Charles V
and John II
, whose first copy was captured with him at the Battle of Poitiers
. King Charles VIII of France
, near the end of his life, ordered it to be printed. The text for the print edition was prepared by Jean de Rély and first published by Antoine Vérard
in 1496 and subsequently printed in later editions in Paris
and Lyon
well into the sixteenth century, even alongside a host of competing translations produced by the Protestant Reformation
. It was also widely owned, in manuscript and print, in England
, Flanders
and modern-day Belgium
, and today one may find copies in libraries around the world.
and the Acre Bible, written between 1250 and 1254 in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
. The Thirteenth-Century Bible survives in four complete or near-complete copies and a significant number of single volumes (of two) and fragments in addition to parts of it being used to supplement the Bible historiale.
Bible translations in the Middle Ages
Bible translations in the Middle Ages were rare, in contrast to Late Antiquity, when the Bibles available to most Christians were in the local vernacular...
into French. It translates from the Latin Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
significant portions from the Bible accompanied by selections from the Historia Scholastica
Historia scholastica
The Historia Scholastica is a twelfth-century Biblical paraphrase written in Medieval Latin by Petrus Comestor. Sometimes called the "Medieval Popular Bible", it draws on the Bible and other sources, including the works of classical scholars and the Fathers of the Church, to present a universal...
by Peter Comestor (d. c. 1178), a literal-historical commentary that summarizes and interprets episodes from the historical books of the Bible and situates them chronologically with respect to events from pagan history and mythology.
Authorship
The composite work is organized into parts labeled "text," i.e. from the Bible; "gloss," offering interpretations based on the Historia Scholastica, other authoritative commentaries or the translator's own opinion; "incidents," which insert parallel histories from pagan history and mythology; and "histories," passages directly translated from Comestor's work. It was composed between 1291 and 1295 (1294 old system) by priest and canon Guyart des Moulins, who added a prologue in 1297 announcing his recent election as dean of his canonial chapter at the collegial church of Saint Pierre d'Aire-sur-la-LysAire-sur-la-Lys
Aire-sur-la-Lys is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:The commune is located 10 miles southeast of Saint-Omer, at the junction of the N43 with several departmental roads, by the banks of the Lys and the Laquette rivers.-History:Aire-sur-la-Lys is mentioned for...
. Describing his own role as translating and "ordering" the text, Guyart censored or omitted portions of the Bible that "should not, according to reason, be translated," rearranged materials "so that the laity might find them better ordered" and, on rare occasions, added further commentaries of his own or from other sources to produce the work known as the Bible Historiale.
Copies
The work was copied in many manuscriptManuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s, of which more than a hundred survive, most of them richly illuminated
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
, some with more than 300 miniatures. Genesis is typically especially heavily illustrated. In this respect, it is similar to other vernacular medieval redactions of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
such as the Bible moralisée
Bible moralisée
The Bible moralisée. is a later name for the most important of the medieval picture bibles, sometimes called "biblia pauperum", though they were extremely expensive, to have survived. It is a heavily illustrated illuminated manuscript of the thirteenth century, and from the copies that still...
, Biblia pauperum
Biblia pauperum
The Biblia pauperum was a tradition of picture Bibles beginning in the later Middle Ages. They sought to portray the historical books of the Bible visually. Unlike a simple "illustrated Bible", where the pictures are subordinated to the text, these Bibles placed the illustration in the centre,...
and Speculum Humanae Salvationis
Speculum Humanae Salvationis
The Speculum Humanae Salvationis or Mirror of Human Salvation was a bestselling anonymous illustrated work of popular theology in the late Middle Ages, part of the genre of encyclopedic speculum literature, in this case concentrating on the medieval theory of typology, whereby the events of the Old...
; it differed from these, however, in containing extended direct translations from the Bible. The French name is usually used in English, at least partly because scholars differ as to whether "Historiale" should be translated as "historical" or "historiated" (illustrated).
Contents vary tremendously among manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
copies. Guyart did not translate the entire Bible; he seems to have only treated the historical books of the Bible, abridged versions of Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
and Proverbs
Book of Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
and the combined Gospels, based on Peter Comestor's Historia Evangelica. As early as 1317, however, Paris book shops began adding books from other translations--mainly the one known as the Thirteenth-Century Bible or the University of Paris Bible--to expand the French Bible over several stages to conform to the canonical Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
. Samuel Berger categorized the manuscripts into four main families according to their contents, although many fifteenth-century copies resist categorization for their inclusion of new glosses, prologues and other additions from a variety of sources; these have been further categorized and described by Clive Sneddon. One manuscript, London, British Library Royal MS 19 D III, includes some apocryphal stories whose translation is also attributed to Guyart.
Some of the most lavish 14th and early 15th century manuscripts are luxury copies commissioned by bibliophile magnates or royalty; John, Duke of Berry
John, Duke of Berry
John of Valois or John the Magnificent was Duke of Berry and Auvergne and Count of Poitiers and Montpensier. He was the third son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg; his brothers were King Charles V of France, Duke Louis I of Anjou and Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy...
owned at least eight, with other notable patrons including Mahaut, Countess of Artois
Mahaut, Countess of Artois
Mahaut of Artois , also known as Mathilda, was the only daughter, and eldest child of Robert II, Count of Artois and Amicie de Courtenay.- Lineage :...
, Joan III, Countess of Burgundy, and several kings of France, including Charles V
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
and John II
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
, whose first copy was captured with him at the Battle of Poitiers
Battle of Poitiers (1356)
The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdoms of England and France on 19 September 1356 near Poitiers, resulting in the second of the three great English victories of the Hundred Years' War: Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt....
. King Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
, near the end of his life, ordered it to be printed. The text for the print edition was prepared by Jean de Rély and first published by Antoine Vérard
Antoine Vérard
Antoine Vérard was a late 15th and early 16th century French publisher, bookmaker and bookseller.-Life:The colophon of a 1485 edition of the Catholicon abbreviatum, the first French-Latin dictionary, which dates to 1485, indicates that Antoine Vérard was based at the heart of the bookselling and...
in 1496 and subsequently printed in later editions in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
well into the sixteenth century, even alongside a host of competing translations produced by the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. It was also widely owned, in manuscript and print, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and modern-day Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and today one may find copies in libraries around the world.
Other versions
While the Bible historiale was by far the most popular medieval French translation of the Bible, it was not the first. Verse adaptations of the Bible first appeared in the latter part of the 12th century, with more or less complete prose French Bibles appearing in the mid thirteenth century. These were the "Thirteenth-Century Bible," probably completed between 1230 and 1250 at the University of ParisUniversity of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and the Acre Bible, written between 1250 and 1254 in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
. The Thirteenth-Century Bible survives in four complete or near-complete copies and a significant number of single volumes (of two) and fragments in addition to parts of it being used to supplement the Bible historiale.
French bibliography
- S. Berger :
- La Bible romane au Moyen Âge : Bibles provençales, vaudoises, catalanes, italiennes, castillanes et portugaises, Genève, Slatkine Reprints (réimpression des articles extraits de Romania XVIII-XXVIII, 1889-1899), 1977.
- Histoire de la Vulgate pendant les premiers siècles du Moyen Âge, Paris, Hachette, 1893.
- De l’histoire de la Vulgate en France. Leçon d’ouverture faite le 4 novembre 1887, Paris, Fischbacher, 1887.
- Des Essais qui ont été faits à Paris au treizième siècle pour corriger le texte de la Vulgate, Paris, Fischbacher, 1887.
- La Bible française au Moyen Âge : étude sur les plus anciennes versions de la Bible écrites en prose de langue d’oil, Genève, Slatkine Reprints (Fac Similé de l’édition originale Paris, 1884), 1967.
- Guyart des Moulins
- Bible historiale ou Bible française, édition de Jean de Rely, 1543.
- J. J. Rive (a pupil of), La Chasse aux antiquaires et bibliographes mal avisés, Londres, N. Aphobe, 1787.
- P. Paris, Les Manuscrits français de la bibliothèque du roi, Paris, Techener, place du Louvre, 1836, I-VII.
- M. Quereuil [dir.], La Bible française du XIIIe siècle, édition critique de la Genèse, Genève, Droz, « Publications Romanes et Françaises », 1988.
- X.-L. Salvador
- Vérité et écriture(s)¸Paris, Champion, 2005 (avec une édition critique du Livre de la Genèse de la Bible Historiale mentionnant les emprunts à Comestor et les citations de la Glossa)
- « L’utilisation du pont dans la théologie chrétienne médiévale », Les Ponts au Moyen Âge, Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 2005.
- « La Réécriture argumentative impliquée par la traduction du livre de la Genèse : l'example des énoncés car q dans The Medieval translator, the Theory and practice of translation in the Middle Ages, R. Ellis [ed.], Paris, Brepols, 2005.
- « L’Enceinte sacrée des traductions vulgaires de la Bible au Moyen Âge », La Clôture – Actes du colloque qui s’est déroulé à Bologne et à Florence les 8, 9 et 10 mai 2003, Préface de Claude Thomasset, textes réunis par Xavier-Laurent Salvador, Bologna, Clueb, 2005.
- « L’example de "derechief" dans la traduction de la Bible historiale », Actes des XIe journée d’ancien et de moyen français (Anvers 2005), en cours de publication.
- « Une Autre définition de l’étymologie : dire le Vrai dans la Bible au Moyen Âge », Mélanges en l’honneur de Claude Thomasset, Paris, Presses universitaires de Paris-Sorbonne, 2003.
- « Les "Biblismes", un système de définition original du lexique dans le discours pédagogique de la Bible Historiale », dans Lessicologia e lessicografia nella storia degli insegnamenti linguistici, Quaderni del Cirsil - 2 (2003), 14-15 novembre 2003, Bologna, http://amsacta.cib.unibo.it/archive/00000931/.
- « Des Coffres hébraïques aux bougettes françaises, La translation du sacré à travers les traductions médiévales de la Bible », Coffres et contenants au Moyen Âge, Paris, Presses universitaires de France, en cours de parution.
- F. Vieillard, « Compte rendu de l’édition de la Bible du XIIIe », Romania, n°109, p. 131-137.
External links
- 15th century illuminated MS from the New York Public LibraryNew York Public LibraryThe New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
- 14th century MS in the Getty Museum
- Petrus Comestor, Bible historiale