Book of Llandaff
Encyclopedia
The Book of Llandaff is a 12th century compilation of documents relating to the history of the diocese of Llandaff
in Wales
. It is written primarily in Latin but also contains a significant amount of Old and Middle Welsh names and marginalia.
The work was compiled around 1125 by an unknown official at Llandaff Cathedral
. It contains numerous records covering five hundred years of the diocese's history, including the biographies
or Lives of Saints Dubricius
, Teilo and Oudoceus
and, most importantly, 149 land grant charters. These Llandaff Charters give details of property transfers to the cathedral
from various local kings and other notaries, from the late 6th to the late 11th century: although 40% belong to the 8th century and 20% to the late 9th century. The manuscript includes the document Fraint Teilo, in the original Middle Welsh with facing Latin version, an important source for the study of early Middle Welsh; although transcribed in the beginning of the twelfth century the orthography suggests a considerably earlier provenance.
The book was compiled from a pre-existing collection of nine charter groups, originally entered in Gospel
Books, and appears to have been produced to help in Bishop Urban
's diocesan boundary disputes with the dioceses of St David's and Hereford
. Many of the supposed early charters have therefore been 'edited' to serve Llandaff's interests. They are also undated and many are corrupt. However, through her exhaustive study of these documents, Prof Wendy Davies
has reconstructed much of the original text and calculated probable time-frames. This work has been accepted by most historians, but criticised in some non-academic quarters.
The manuscript fell into the hands of the Davies family of Llanerch in the 17th century, until eventually acquired by the National Library of Wales
, where it is known as MS 17110 E. It is a double-columned 168 page volume bound between oak boards.
Diocese of Llandaff
The Diocese of Llandaff is a Church in Wales diocese. It is headed by the Bishop of Llandaff, whose seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Llandaff, a suburb of Cardiff...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is written primarily in Latin but also contains a significant amount of Old and Middle Welsh names and marginalia.
The work was compiled around 1125 by an unknown official at Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
. It contains numerous records covering five hundred years of the diocese's history, including the biographies
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
or Lives of Saints Dubricius
Dubricius
Saint Dubricius was a 6th century Briton ecclesiastic venerated as a saint. He was the evangelist of Ergyng and much of South-East Wales.-Biography:Dubricius was the illegitimate son of Efrddyl, the daughter of King Peibio Clafrog of Ergyng...
, Teilo and Oudoceus
Oudoceus
Saint Oudoceus or Saint Euddogwy is generally known as the third Bishop of Llandaff. In reality, he was probably a 7th century 'Bishop of Teilo' based at Llandeilo Fawr...
and, most importantly, 149 land grant charters. These Llandaff Charters give details of property transfers to the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
from various local kings and other notaries, from the late 6th to the late 11th century: although 40% belong to the 8th century and 20% to the late 9th century. The manuscript includes the document Fraint Teilo, in the original Middle Welsh with facing Latin version, an important source for the study of early Middle Welsh; although transcribed in the beginning of the twelfth century the orthography suggests a considerably earlier provenance.
The book was compiled from a pre-existing collection of nine charter groups, originally entered in Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
Books, and appears to have been produced to help in Bishop Urban
Urban, Bishop of Llandaff
Urban was the first bishop of South East Wales to call himself 'bishop of Llandaff'. He was of a Welsh clerical family and his baptismal name in the Welsh language is given in charter sources as Gwrgan...
's diocesan boundary disputes with the dioceses of St David's and Hereford
Diocese of Hereford
The Diocese of Hereford is a Church of England diocese based in Hereford, covering Herefordshire, southern Shropshire and a few parishes within Worcestershire in England; and a few parishes within Powys and Monmouthshire in Wales....
. Many of the supposed early charters have therefore been 'edited' to serve Llandaff's interests. They are also undated and many are corrupt. However, through her exhaustive study of these documents, Prof Wendy Davies
Wendy Davies
Wendy Elizabeth Davies OBE FBA FSA FRHistS FLSW is an Emeritus Professor of History at University College, London in England.Davies studied for her BA degree and PhD degree in history at UCL. Following positions in Munich and Birmingham, she returned to UCL as a Lecturer in Medieval History...
has reconstructed much of the original text and calculated probable time-frames. This work has been accepted by most historians, but criticised in some non-academic quarters.
The manuscript fell into the hands of the Davies family of Llanerch in the 17th century, until eventually acquired by the National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
, where it is known as MS 17110 E. It is a double-columned 168 page volume bound between oak boards.
Further reading
- Rhys, J. and Evans, J. G. (eds.) The Text of The Book of Llandâv Oxford 1893
- Davies, W.Wendy DaviesWendy Elizabeth Davies OBE FBA FSA FRHistS FLSW is an Emeritus Professor of History at University College, London in England.Davies studied for her BA degree and PhD degree in history at UCL. Following positions in Munich and Birmingham, she returned to UCL as a Lecturer in Medieval History...
An Early Welsh Microcosm: Studies in the Llandaff Charters Royal Historical Society 1978 ISBN 978-0901050335 - Davies, W.Wendy DaviesWendy Elizabeth Davies OBE FBA FSA FRHistS FLSW is an Emeritus Professor of History at University College, London in England.Davies studied for her BA degree and PhD degree in history at UCL. Following positions in Munich and Birmingham, she returned to UCL as a Lecturer in Medieval History...
The Llandaff Charters National Library of Wales 1980 ISBN 978-0901833884 - Davies, J.R. The Book of Llandaf and the Norman church in Wales The Boydell Press 2003 ISBN 978-1843830245