The Poppleton Manuscript dates from the 14th century and, among a number of works including some by Geoffrey of Monmouth and Gerald of Wales, it contains seven documents concerning early Scottish history. These, which are used as source material for this blog, are:
- De Situ Albanie
- Cronica de origine antiquorum Pictorum (i.e. Chronicle on the Origins of the Ancient Picts)
- The Pictish King List up to 843
- The Kings who ruled Pictavia after 843, from Kenneth I (McAlpin) to Kenneth II (died 995) – this section is sometimes known as the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
- List of Scottish Kings (“Cronica Regum Scottorum”), from Fergus son of Eric to William I (“the Lion”, who died 1204)
- Genealogy of King William I
- A version of the St Andrews foundation legend. Legend A. For the original Latin see “Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History” by William Forbes Skene, pages 138-140
The first six of these were possibly compiled in the 12th or 13th century in Scotland, although the manuscript itself was later put together at the request of Robert of Poppleton who had been born near York, but after a career in the church, prior of Hulne Priory in Alnwick in the 1360s, whence came his request.
It can now be found in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris (Manuscript: lat. 4126) and perhaps travelled there during the years of the “auld” alliance (14th – 16th centuries) between Scotland and France.
A short description of each (where required) and where you can find the texts follows below:
1: De Situ Albanie. This is named after its opening lines: “De Situ Albanie que in se figuram hominis habet quomodo fuit primitus is septem regionibus diuisa quibusque nominibus antiquitus sit uocata et a quibus inhabitata” (“On the position of Scotland, which is shaped in itself like the figure of a man; how it was originally divided into seven districts, and by what ancient names it was called and by whom it was inhabited”). The original text can be found in “Kings, Clerics and Chronicles in Scotland” edited by Simon Taylor: see pages 124-145 (text on pages 133-136, translated 136-139). There is also a translation in Skene’s “Early Sources of Scottish History, 500-1286” pages cxv – cxix
2: Cronica de origine antiquorum Pictorum (i.e. Chronicle on the Origins of the Ancient Picts). Text and Translation here: Origins of the Ancient Picts
3: Pictish King List. Text and Translation here: Pictish King List. This is one of a number of versions of the King Lists and it begins with the legendary Cruidne, the son of Cinge, who is called father of the Picts living in this island (“pater Pictorum habitantium in hac insula”). He allegedly ruled for 100 years and the names of his seven sons match the names of the so-called seven Pictish kingdoms: Fib, Fidach, Floclaid, Fortrenn, Got, Ce, and Circinn.
4: Chronicle of the Kings of Alba which lists the reigns and achievements of kings starting with Cinaed I son of Alpin (843-858) and ending with Cinaed II (971-995). Text and Translation here: Chronicle of the Kings of Alba
5: List of Scottish kings (Dal Riada and Alba/Scotland), starting with the legendary Fergus Mór mac Eirc and ending with William I (1165-1214). The original text quoted is Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History” by William Forbes Skene, pages 130-133
6: Genealogy of King William I. Original text quoted in Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History” by William Forbes Skene, pages 133-134
7: A version of the St Andrews foundation legend. Version A. For the original Latin see “Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History” by William Forbes Skene, pages 138-140
The Northern Tapestry 