De primo Saxonum adventu
Encyclopedia
De primo Saxonum adventu is a historical work, probably written in Durham
during the episcopate of Ranulf Flambard
(1099–1128). It recounts the coming of the English
(called the "Saxons") to the British Isles
, treating individually the history of the rulers of the Kingdom of Kent
, of the Kingdom of East Anglia, of the Kingdom of Northumbria (to Erik Bloodaxe), as well as the archbishops of Canterbury and the archbishops of York, the bishops of Durham and the earls of Northumbria.
Although it exists in many recension
s updated in later years, the earliest version contains a list of Durham bishops, ending with Ranulf Flambard
. It was written in the time of Symeon of Durham
, and thus Symeon may have had a role in the authorship of the text. It appears to be related to a text called the Series regum Northymbrensium, a list of rulers of Northumbria beginning with Ida
and ending with Henry I
, a text existing only in the manuscript Cambridge University Library, Ff. i.27
, one of the ten manuscripts containing the Libellus de exordio
.
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
during the episcopate of Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England...
(1099–1128). It recounts the coming of the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
(called the "Saxons") to the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, treating individually the history of the rulers of the Kingdom of Kent
Kingdom of Kent
The Kingdom of Kent was a Jutish colony and later independent kingdom in what is now south east England. It was founded at an unknown date in the 5th century by Jutes, members of a Germanic people from continental Europe, some of whom settled in Britain after the withdrawal of the Romans...
, of the Kingdom of East Anglia, of the Kingdom of Northumbria (to Erik Bloodaxe), as well as the archbishops of Canterbury and the archbishops of York, the bishops of Durham and the earls of Northumbria.
Although it exists in many 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...
s updated in later years, the earliest version contains a list of Durham bishops, ending with Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard
Ranulf Flambard was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England...
. It was written in the time of Symeon of Durham
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...
, and thus Symeon may have had a role in the authorship of the text. It appears to be related to a text called the Series regum Northymbrensium, a list of rulers of Northumbria beginning with Ida
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...
and ending with Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, a text existing only in the manuscript Cambridge University Library, Ff. i.27
Cambridge University Library, Ff. i.27
Cambridge University Library, Ff. i.27 is composite manuscript at the University of Cambridge. It was formed by adding a 14th-century Bury St Edmunds book to a compendium of material from 12th-century northern England . The latter compendium had once been part of Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS...
, one of the ten manuscripts containing 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...
.