13th-century English monk, historian, and illustrator
For the British newspaper columnist and former MP, see Matthew Parris.
Matthew Paris
Self-portrait of Matthew Paris from the original manuscript of his Historia Anglorum (London, British Library, MS Royal 14.C.VII, folio 6r
Born
c. 1200
possibly Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, England
Died
1259 (aged c. 59)
St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Nationality
English
Occupation(s)
Historian Author Cartographer Painter
Notable work
Chronica Majora Flores Historiarum
Matthew Paris, also known as Matthew of Paris (Latin: Matthæus Parisiensis, lit. 'Matthew the Parisian';[1] c. 1200 – 1259), was an English Benedictine monk, chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts, and cartographer who was based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire. He authored a number of historical works, many of which he scribed and illuminated himself, typically in drawings partly coloured with watercolour washes, sometimes called "tinted drawings". Some were written in Latin, others in Anglo-Norman or French verse. He is sometimes confused with the nonexistent Matthew of Westminster.
His Chronica Majora is a renowned Medieval work, in many cases being a key source for mid-13th century Europe, partially due to his verbose insertion of personal opinions into his narrative and his use of sources such as records, letters, and conversations with witnesses to events including the English king Henry III, earl Richard of Cornwall, the Norwegian king Haakon IV, a number of English bishops, and many others. Modern historians recognise Paris's biases. He often tended to glorify Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and denigrate the pope,[2] expressing strong criticism of centralised church authority and at times royal power. However, in his Historia Anglorum, Paris displays a highly negative view of Frederick, going as far as to describe him as a "tyrant" who "committed disgraceful crimes".[3]
^John Allen Giles (translator), Matthew Paris' English history, from 1235 to 1273, Publ. 1852. (page v)
^Peter Jackson, Mongols and the West, p. 58
^Matthew Paris, 'Matthew Paris on Staufer Italy'. In Jessalyn Bird, Edward Peters, and James M. Powell, Crusade and Christendom: Annotated Documents in Translation from Innocent III to the Fall of Acre, 1187–1291, p.405
MatthewParis, also known as Matthew of Paris (Latin: Matthæus Parisiensis, lit. 'Matthew the Parisian'; c. 1200 – 1259), was an English Benedictine monk...
particular writings of Roger of Wendover and MatthewParis. These early historians, including Archbishop Matthew Parker, were influenced by contemporary concerns...
Matthew of Westminster was long regarded as the author of the Flores Historiarum (in fact written by MatthewParis), and is now thought never to have existed...
The Chronica Majora is the seminal work of MatthewParis, a member of the English Benedictine community of St Albans and long-celebrated historian. The...
school of Paris. The earliest historical reference to it is found in MatthewParis's reference to the studies of his own teacher (an abbot of St Albans)...
British Library (Cotton MS Otho B V), and in the version adapted by MatthewParis which forms the first part of his Chronica Majora (ed. Henry Richards...
services; and called "Curtein" in the Chronicle of 13th-century monk MatthewParis, in which he identifies it with the "Sword of Edward the Confessor"...
direct intervention of King Henry III. It was further bolstered by MatthewParis' account of the events, and by Edward I's support for the cult after...
spent his wandering days proselytizing and leading a hermit's life. MatthewParis included this passage from Roger of Wendover in his own history; and...
Brown 1976, p. 62. Oman 1991, p. 33. Lewis, Suzanne (1987). The Art of MatthewParis in the Chronica Majora. California studies in the history of art. Vol...
Palace Library, and the Chronica Majora and Liber Additamentorum of MatthewParis. The process of appointment is not known, but the names were drawn almost...
across medieval Europe as Philip Augustus expanded the royal domain. MatthewParis notes how during a 1231 rebellion against King Henry II of England in...
clerico et puella) The Orphan of Zhao (趙氏孤兒 Zhaoshi guer) c. 1200 – MatthewParis, English chronicler and monk (died 1259) 1200 – Rudolf von Ems, German...
Henry G. Bohn, p. 314 (Eng. tr.) MatthewParis Yonge, C. D. (1853), The Flowers of History, … collected by Matthew of Westminster, vol. 1, London: Henry...
Ireland. The first known irruption, recorded in England by the chronicler MatthewParis, was in 1254; the next, also in England, appears to have been in 1593...
5.107377. Paris, M. (1968). MatthewParis's English history from the year 1235 to 1273. New York: AMS Press. Menache, Sophia. "MatthewParis". The Crusades...
least the root albho- on which it is based) as 'white' or 'bright'. MatthewParis, the celebrated medieval English chronicler and most famous of St Alban's...
in her old age Richard of Devizes described her as beautiful, while MatthewParis, writing in the 13th century, recalled her "admirable beauty", a common...
placed on a shield) was included among the c. 1250 heraldic shields in MatthewParis' Chronica Majora, while the c. 1260 allegorical illustrations of a knight...
ultimately derived, appearing in English as "baudekin" and other spellings. MatthewParis records that Henry III of England wore a robe "de preciosissimo baldekino"...
for his menagerie in the Tower of London. A drawing by the historian MatthewParis for his Chronica Majora can be seen in his bestiary at Parker Library...
Pope Innocent IV offered Richard the crown of Sicily, but according to MatthewParis, he responded to the extortionate price by saying, "You might as well...
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