Walter Map
Encyclopedia
Walter Map was a medieval writer
of works written in Latin. Only one work is attributed to Map with any certainty: De Nugis Curialium
.
origin and to be a man of the Welsh Marches
(marchio sum Walensibus); details in his writings suggest that he came from Herefordshire
. He studied at the University of Paris
, apparently around 1160 when Gerard la Pucelle
was teaching there. He had encountered Thomas Becket
before 1162. As a courtier of King Henry II of England
he was sent on missions to Louis VII of France
and to Pope Alexander III
, probably attending the Third Lateran Council in 1179 and encountering a delegation of Waldensians
. On this journey he stayed with Henry I of Champagne
, who was then about to undertake his last journey to the East.
Walter was holding a prebend in the diocese of Lincoln
by 1183 and was chancellor of the diocese by 1186. Walter Map later became precentor
of Lincoln, a canon
of St Paul's, London and of Hereford
and, in 1196, archdeacon of Oxford.
He was a candidate to succeed William de Vere
as Bishop of Hereford
in 1199, but was unsuccessful. He was once more a candidate for a bishopric in 1203, this time as Bishop of St David's
, but was once more not consecrated. He was still alive on 28 May 1208 but had died by September of 1210. His death was commemorated on 1 April at Hereford Cathedral
.
(Trifles of Courtiers) is a collection of anecdotes and trivia, containing court gossip and a little real history, and written in a satirical vein. Along with William of Newburgh
, he recorded the earliest stories of English vampires.
The French language Prose Lancelot cycle claims him, "Gauthier Map," as an author, though this is contradicted by internal evidence; some scholars have suggested he wrote an original, lost Lancelot
romance that was the source for the later cycle. Map was alleged to have written a quantity of Goliardic poetry, including the satirical Apocalypse of Golias
.
English historians in the Middle Ages
Historians of England in the Middle Ages helped to lay the groundwork for modern historical historiography, providing vital accounts of the early history of England, Wales and Normandy, its cultures, and revelations about the historians themselves....
of works written in Latin. Only one work is attributed to Map with any certainty: De Nugis Curialium
De Nugis Curialium
De nugis curialium is the major surviving work of the 12th century Latin author Walter Map. He was an English courtier of Welsh descent, probably born in Herefordshire, whose studies and employment took him to Canterbury, Paris, Rome and to several royal and noble courts of western Europe...
.
Life
He claims WelshWales
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...
origin and to be a man of the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
(marchio sum Walensibus); details in his writings suggest that he came from Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. He studied at the University of Paris
University 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...
, apparently around 1160 when Gerard la Pucelle
Gerard la Pucelle
Gerard la Pucelle was a peripatetic Anglo-French scholar of canon law, clerk, and Bishop of Coventry.-Life:...
was teaching there. He had encountered Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
before 1162. As a courtier of King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
he was sent on missions to Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
and to Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
, probably attending the Third Lateran Council in 1179 and encountering a delegation of Waldensians
Waldensians
Waldensians, Waldenses or Vaudois are names for a Christian movement of the later Middle Ages, descendants of which still exist in various regions, primarily in North-Western Italy. There is considerable uncertainty about the earlier history of the Waldenses because of a lack of extant source...
. On this journey he stayed with Henry I of Champagne
Henry I of Champagne
Henry I of Champagne , known as "the Liberal", was count of Champagne from 1152 to 1181. He was the eldest son of Count Thibaut II of Champagne and his wife, Matilda of Carinthia....
, who was then about to undertake his last journey to the East.
Walter was holding a prebend in the diocese of Lincoln
Diocese of Lincoln
The Diocese of Lincoln forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire.- History :...
by 1183 and was chancellor of the diocese by 1186. Walter Map later became precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of Lincoln, a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St Paul's, London and of 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....
and, in 1196, archdeacon of Oxford.
He was a candidate to succeed William de Vere
William de Vere
-Biography:The son of Aubrey de Vere II and Adeliza of Clare, probably the fourth of five sons, and brother of Aubrey de Vere III first earl of Oxford, de Vere spent part of his youth at the court of King Henry I of England and his second wife, Queen Adeliza of Leuven. Little is known of his...
as Bishop of Hereford
Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
in 1199, but was unsuccessful. He was once more a candidate for a bishopric in 1203, this time as Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
, but was once more not consecrated. He was still alive on 28 May 1208 but had died by September of 1210. His death was commemorated on 1 April at Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
.
Writings
Walter Map's only surviving work, De Nugis CurialiumDe Nugis Curialium
De nugis curialium is the major surviving work of the 12th century Latin author Walter Map. He was an English courtier of Welsh descent, probably born in Herefordshire, whose studies and employment took him to Canterbury, Paris, Rome and to several royal and noble courts of western Europe...
(Trifles of Courtiers) is a collection of anecdotes and trivia, containing court gossip and a little real history, and written in a satirical vein. Along with William of Newburgh
William of Newburgh
William of Newburgh or Newbury , also known as William Parvus, was a 12th-century English historian and Augustinian canon from Bridlington, Yorkshire.-Biography:...
, he recorded the earliest stories of English vampires.
The French language Prose Lancelot cycle claims him, "Gauthier Map," as an author, though this is contradicted by internal evidence; some scholars have suggested he wrote an original, lost Lancelot
Lancelot
Sir Lancelot du Lac is one of the Knights of the Round Table in the Arthurian legend. He is the most trusted of King Arthur's knights and plays a part in many of Arthur's victories...
romance that was the source for the later cycle. Map was alleged to have written a quantity of Goliardic poetry, including the satirical Apocalypse of Golias
Apocalypse of Golias
The Apocalypse of Golias is a satirical Latin poem of the 12th century, probably written in England or France. Like the Biblical Apocalypse, the poem is addressed to the "Seven Churches", but manuscripts differ as to whether they are the "Seven Churches in England" or "Seven Churches in...
.
External links
- Latin Chroniclers from the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Centuries: Walter Map from The Cambridge History of English and American LiteratureThe Cambridge History of English and American LiteratureThe Cambridge History of English and American Literature was originally published by Cambridge University Press in 1907–1921. The 18 volumes include 303 chapters and more than 11,000 pages edited and written by a worldwide panel of 171 leading scholars and thinkers of the early twentieth century...
, Volume I, 1907–21. - Biography from the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
.