Reimagining History in Anglo-Norman Prose Chronicles

Description

The medieval Anglo-Norman prose chronicles are fascinating hybrids of history, legends and romance, building on the rich tradition of historical writing circulating in England at the time of their composition, such as Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Historia" and the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle". Their prime subject is the history of England, but they also shed much light on other networks of influence, such as those between families and religious houses. This book studies the essential characteristics of the genre for the first time, situating Anglo-Norman prose chronicles within the multilingual cultures of late medieval England. It considers the chronicles' treatment of the "legendary history of Britain", legends about English heroes, accounts of the Norman Conquest, and histories of noble families. In particular, it explores how Anglo-Norman prose chronicles rewrite the past with rhetorical flourish, in order to advance the contemporary political and personal agendas of their authors and patrons. List of plates vi Acknowledgements viii Abbreviations ix A note on quotations and translations x Introduction 1 1. The rhetoric of confidence in the prologues to Anglo-Norman prose chronicles 26 2. The legendary history of Britain in Anglo-Norman prose chronicles 40 3. Legends of English heroes: Engel, Havelok, Constance 74 4. Representations of the Norman Conquest in Anglo-Norman prose chronicles 105 5. Family chronicles 141 Conclusions 162 Appendix: Two extracts from the "Scalacronica": texts and translations 165 Bibliography 174 Index 197