Chronicles of Mann
From ManxWiki
The Chronicles of the Kings of Mann and the Isles (Latin: Chronica Regum Manniæ et Insularum) or Manx Chronicle is a mediaeval Latin manuscript relating the early history of the Isle of Man.
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Brief Description
The main part of the manuscript is believed to have been composed and written in 1261 or 1262 at Rushen Abbey, shortly after the time of the Cistercian abbey's dedication in 1257, which is the final event retold by the original scribe. The manuscript is illustrated ink on vellum, with pages roughly 15cm by 20cm.
Providing a look back, year-by-year from 1016, over the significant events in Manx history of that tune, The Chronicles record the island's role as the centre of the Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles, and the influence of its kings and religious leaders, as well as the role of Rushen Abbey itself – which was founded at the invitation of Olaf, one of the Norse kings. The original scribe also included a list of popes which ends with Pope Urban IV (1261-4). It is probable that the Chronicles were written for the new abbey on it's foundation.
Entries for the earlier years are notably shorter than those towards the end of the original section of the manuscript, likely to be as they occurred within living memory of the time of writing, and thus more detail being available. Many of the dates of the earlier annals are put around fifteen years earlier than the actual event, and none of these entries before 1047 are directly related to the Isle of Man, having been copied from the Chronicle of Melrose.
Several further notes were later added by the abbey's Cistercian monks, taking the Chronicles up to 1316.
After the abbey was dissolved in 1540 the manuscript is thought to have passed through a number of private hands until becoming the property of Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, (1571-1631) whose collection of medieval works was one of the founding collections of the British Museum and are now cared for by the British Library in London.
Return to Mann
Through a loan agreement with the British Library. The Chronicles were brought home and displayed in a Viking and Medieval Gallery at the Manx Museum for a time from Tynwald Day 2007 before being returned to England.
There have been a number of campaigns to return the Chronicles permanently. The Celtic League have been calling for their return for over 20 years. The most recent attempt to negotiate their return by Government ceased in September 2008 when Chief Minister Tony Brown circulated notice that"negotiations with the UK had come to nothing and it would serve no useful purpose to pursue the matter any further at present." (Ref: IOM Today)
See Also
External Links
- Chronicles of Mann Latin and English translation on Manx Notebook.
- Chronicles of Mann Original Manuscript - British Library.
