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Medieval Chronicle Reveals Lincoln's Pivotal Role
7 Mar
Summary
- A medieval book, Chronica Majora, is on display at Lincoln Castle.
- It details the crucial Battle of Lincoln in 1217, preventing French takeover.
- The manuscript is shown with Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest.
Visitors to Lincoln Castle can now view the Chronica Majora, a medieval manuscript illuminating the city's historical significance. This illustrated document recounts the pivotal Battle of Lincoln in 1217, a conflict that decisively ended the First Baron's War and thwarted a potential French conquest of England.
The manuscript, on loan from the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, was penned and illustrated by monk Matthew Paris. It chronicles the invitation of Prince Louis of France by rebel barons to claim the English throne from King John. Following King John's death, rebel forces and their French allies occupied Lincoln City, but its castle, under Lady Nicola de la Haye's command, remained loyal to the young King Henry III.
The crucial 1217 battle saw victory for the royalists. Dr. Joanne Porter from Lincoln Castle emphasized how the Chronica Majora visually captures a key moment: the death of rebel leader the Count of Perche, whose demise threw rebel forces into disarray. The exhibition also includes the 1215 Magna Carta and the 1217 Charter of the Forest, documents related to the war's prelude and peace negotiations, respectively. The Chronica Majora is accessible in the David PJ Ross Magna Carta Vault until May 25.
