Annals of Tigernach
Encyclopedia
The Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle
probably originating in Clonmacnoise
, Ireland
. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish.
Many of the pre-historic entries come from the 12th-century MS, Rawlinson B 502. However, the real importance of the chronicle is for the period 489-766, 973–1003 and 1018–1178. These three fragments survive from the 14th-century MS Rawlinson B 488. The coverage of the period 766 to 973 is lost, but is thought to survive in abbreviated form in the Chronicon Scottorum
(abbr. CT). The latter is defective for the period 718 to 804, but as much of its content is derived from the hypothetical Chronicle of Ireland (itself partly derived from the Iona Chronicle), of which the Annals of Ulster
(abbr. AU) and Annals of Inisfallen
(abbr. AI) are also derived, we have some idea of what the entries contained. Kathleen Hughes postulates that AU and AT diverged from the Chronicle of Ireland sometime before the year 913.
The chronicle owes its modern name to Tigernach Ua Braín
(d. 1088), abbot of Clonmacnoise
, but this does not mean that he was also its author. A note added to entry for 1088, the year of his death, in Rawlinson B 488 states that the text was written by Tigernach up to that point. If he was not merely the scribe of the original text copied by the 14th-century scribe, it may mean that he was one of the annalists responsible for the work.
Chronicle
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...
probably originating in Clonmacnoise
Clonmacnoise
The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish.
Many of the pre-historic entries come from the 12th-century MS, Rawlinson B 502. However, the real importance of the chronicle is for the period 489-766, 973–1003 and 1018–1178. These three fragments survive from the 14th-century MS Rawlinson B 488. The coverage of the period 766 to 973 is lost, but is thought to survive in abbreviated form in the Chronicon Scottorum
Chronicon Scotorum
Chronicon Scotorum is a medieval Irish chronicle.According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the 'Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric times to 1150 but with some gaps, closely related to the 'Annals of Tigernach'...
(abbr. CT). The latter is defective for the period 718 to 804, but as much of its content is derived from the hypothetical Chronicle of Ireland (itself partly derived from the Iona Chronicle), of which the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
(abbr. AU) and Annals of Inisfallen
Annals of Inisfallen
The Annals of Inisfallen are a chronicle of the medieval history of Ireland. There are more than 2,500 entries spanning the years between AD 433 and AD 1450, but it is believed to have been written between the 12th and 15th centuries...
(abbr. AI) are also derived, we have some idea of what the entries contained. Kathleen Hughes postulates that AU and AT diverged from the Chronicle of Ireland sometime before the year 913.
The chronicle owes its modern name to Tigernach Ua Braín
Tigernach Ua Braín
Tigernach Ua Braín was abbot of Clonmacnoise and abbot of Roscommon. He was once held to be the author of the Annals of Tigernach, hence its name, but though this view is no longer sustainable, the nature and extent of his involvement remain unclear.-The Uí Braín and Clonmacnoise:The annalistic...
(d. 1088), abbot of Clonmacnoise
Abbot of Clonmacnoise
The Abbot of Clonmacnoise was the monastic head of Clonmacnoise. They also bore the title "Comarba of Saint Ciarán", "successor of Saint Ciarán". The following is a list of abbots:-List of abbots to 1539:-References:...
, but this does not mean that he was also its author. A note added to entry for 1088, the year of his death, in Rawlinson B 488 states that the text was written by Tigernach up to that point. If he was not merely the scribe of the original text copied by the 14th-century scribe, it may mean that he was one of the annalists responsible for the work.
See also
- Irish annalsIrish annalsA number of Irish annals were compiled up to and shortly after the end of Gaelic Ireland in the 17th century.Annals were originally a means by which monks determined the yearly chronology of feast days...
- The Chronicle of Ireland
- Gilla Críst Ua Máel EóinGilla Críst Ua Máel EóinGilla Críst Ua Máel Eóin was an Irish historian and Abbot of Clonmacnoise.-Family background:...
- Chronicon ScotorumChronicon ScotorumChronicon Scotorum is a medieval Irish chronicle.According to Nollaig Ó Muraíle, it is "a collection of annals belonging to the 'Clonmacnoise group', covering the period from prehistoric times to 1150 but with some gaps, closely related to the 'Annals of Tigernach'...
Editions
- O'Conor, Charles. Rerum Hibernicarum scriptores veteres. 4 vols. Buckingham, 1814-26. Superseded by Stokes' edition. Available from Google Books.
Translation
- Mac Niocaill, GearóidGearóid Mac NiocaillGearóid Mac Niocaill was one of the foremost twentieth-century scholars and interpreters of late medieval Irish tracts and professor of history at NUI Galway from 1977 until his retirement in 1997. His publication of key late medieval manuscripts in Latin and, especially, Irish restricted his...
(2010), The Annals of Tigernach. Unpublished electronic file edited by Emer Purcell and Donnchadh Ó CorráinDonnchadh Ó CorráinDonnchadh Ó Corráin is an Irish historian and Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at University College Cork. He is an early Irish and mediaeval historian and has published on the Viking Wars, Ireland in the pre-Hiberno-Norman period and the origin of Irish language names.-Works:Ó Corráin's...
for University College Cork.
Further reading
- Evans, N. (2010) 'The Present and the Past in Medieval Irish Chronicles', Woodbridge & Rochester, Boydell & Brewer
External links
- Digitised images from MS Rawlinson B 488, Early Manuscripts at Oxford University.
- http://www.archive.org/stream/annalsoftigernac00stokuoft/annalsoftigernac00stokuoft_djvu.txt, English translation of the Annals of Tigernach.