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Data Source: Parker on the Web

• Résumé : CCCC MS 373 was once thought to contain a copy of Ekkehard of Aura (fl. early twelfth century), Imperial Chronicle, a history of the Franks, ancestors of the Emperor Henry V at whose request it was written. However, it is now known that the manuscript is the unique copy of an anonymous chronicle, closely modelled on Ekkehard's work, but also incorporating material from the World Chronicle (ending c.1111) of Sigebert of Gembloux (c. 1029/9-1112), continued down to 1114, shortly after which date this copy was produced in Germany. It seems to be by an anonymous author working in Wurzburg 1112-13. The book is illustrated by pen drawings in brown and red of the enthroned kings and emperors. Recent research has suggested that the codex may have been donated to the monastery at Bec by the Empress Matilda (c. 1102-67), from where it travelled to Rochester, possibly being lent for copying in the late twelfth century. It may be identified with the volume described as Cronica Francorum i volumen in Rochester library's catalogue of 1202, and if so it was presumably from there that it found its way, together with many other former monastic manuscripts, into Parker's collection.

  
  

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  Langue(s) des textes : latin

  
  

  1r-96v - Chronicle (to 1114, based on Ekkehard of Aura's Imperial Chronicle) || Ekkehardi Historia

  rubric : (1r) Incipit prologus sequentis Ch(r)onici operis

  incipit : (1r) Quamlibet Rem Publicam testatur tullius felicem fore si uel a sapientibus regatur

  explicit : (1v) post multa curricula annorum. in bona et deo bene complacita senectute

  Note : The prologue is not by the same scribe as the rest

  rubric : (2r) De origine Francorum

  Note : MGH. SS. VI 115 (Ekkehard von Urach's Kaiserchronik)

  incipit : (2r) Francorum gentis exordia de antiqua troianorum prodiere prosapia

  Note : (2r) Good outline initial with some red

  Note : Marginalia by an English scholar (xvi early)

  Note : The book is illustrated with pictures, usually outline in brown and red: of Emperors seated full-face with crown and sceptre. They are as follows

  Note : 1.

  rubric : (14r) Pippinus rex francorum pater karoli magni

  Note : Under architecture: jewelled throne. In frame

  Note : 2.

  rubric : (24r) Karolus magnuspippini filius

  Note : With orb and sceptre: upright objects (candles?) on the arms of the throne

  Note : (24v) Liber II

  Note : 3.

  rubric : (28r) Pius ludewicuskaroli magni filius

  Note : Youthful, orb and sceptre, jewelled throne

  Note : 4.

  rubric : (31r) Ludewicus superioris ludewici filius

  Note : Bearded

  Note : 5.

  rubric : (33v) Karolus iunior filius pii ludewici

  Note : 6.

  rubric : (34v) Arnolfus filius Karlomanni fratris karoli iunioris

  Note : 7.

  rubric : (36v) Ludewicusarnolfi imperatoris filius lxxviiio loco ab augusto admodum puer imperium suscepit

  Note : 8.

  rubric : (39r) Cunradus filius cunradi quem Adelbertus occidit francorum ex genere oriundus

  Note : Sceptre ending in flabellum

  Note : 9.

  rubric : (40r) Henricus genere saxo filius ottonis ducis

  Note : A peculiar crown

  Note : 10.

  rubric : (42v) Otto magnushenrici filius

  Note : 11.

  rubric : (47r) Otto secundusmagni ottonis filius.

  Note : Bird on sceptre

  Note : 12.

  rubric : (48v) Otto terciusottonis secundi filius admodum puer lxxxiiio loco ab augusto romanum imperium suscepit et annis xviii regnauit

  Note : 13.

  rubric : (51r) Henricus secundus primum dux baioarie deinde ottone tercio absque filiis defuncto in regni prouectus culmine lxxxiiiio loco ab augusto regnum accepit

  Note : 14.

  rubric : (53r) Cunradus ex regni primoribus unus etc.

  Note : Crown with three peaks

  Note : 15.

  rubric : (55v) Henricus terciuscunradi imperatoris filius etc.

  Note : 16.

  rubric : (60r) Henricus quartushenrici imperatoris filius etc.

  Note : Moustached: bird on sceptre. This is figured in MGH. SS. VI, pl. 11, and Eisengrein's Kultur-Historischer Bilderatlas XXXIV 3, Stacke, Deutsche Geschichte, 1880, I 79

  Note : 17.

  Note : Full page, coloured and in patterned frame, once silvered, now black, grounds blue and dark red

  rubric : (83r) Henricus quintus

  Note : Under an arch with battlemented gable, and turrets, above. The Emperor on L. holding sceptre and wearing diadem receives orb from an archbishop in close-fitting mitre (like skull-cap), red chasuble, pall with green crosses, stole, tunicle, alb, with long staff. Both stand. Figured in MGH. SS. VI, pl. 11

  Note : (83v) Liber III

  Note : 18.

  Note : (95v) Wedding feast of Henry and Matilda. They sit full-face at table, crowned; on each side a tonsured cleric. Two attendants on the nearer side of the table. Figured in MGH. SS. VI, pl. 1

  Note : Text ends

  explicit : (96v) nisi quod testabantur quendam suum ministerialem nimis ferociter dominium in suis partibus exercere

  Note : There is a full description of the MS. in the Archiv für Deutsche Geschichte VII 493 by Pertz who saw it in 1827 and uses it in the Scriptores. He considers it to be an autograph of Ekkehard and points out that the work is dedicated to Henry V, whose widow Matilda probably brought it to England. It is in three books. Liber I from the beginnings to Charles the Great; Liber II from 800 to 1106 (760-784 being lost with the 3rd quire); Liber III from 1106 to 1113, then continued by the same hand to 1125. It was doubtless written at Urach. The text was collated by Hampe throughout in 1896 (Neues Archiv, XXII 669)