Manuscripts of Wales


Wales has produced a number of manuscripts over the centuries. Although most were written in Middle Welsh or Old Welsh, some were also written in Latin. In some of the more recent manuscripts it is not uncommon to have texts in Welsh, Latin, French and English in the same volume. However, some of the most important medieval manuscripts were written in Latin only, e.g. the Cyfraith Hywel.

History

The documentation of Welsh royalty begins after the departure of the Roman army from the Great Britain at the end of the 4th century, that is the era when Welsh history was first written about, specifically the list and lives of the kings ruling in Wales. Although, some of this history is considered pseudo-histories, i.e., King Arthur, whose written origins are unknown. It was from the sixth century that the Welsh documented their history, starting with Gildas who speaks of the Romans and Kings of Gwynedd. Then Nennius in the 9th century, whose actual identity has been questioned to date. Then, the 10th century King of Deheubarth, Owain ap Hywel Dda helped write the Annals of Wales by using Nennius' research to record the years 447 – 947. And finally, Brut y Tywysogion was compiled, and was written after the 14th century, covering the years 682 – 1332 in medieval Wales. The Brut was considered to be a Welsh translation of the lost Latin work Cronica Principum Wallie, which itself was based on the works compiled by Christian monks, specifically the Cistercian monastery, Strata Florida Abbey in Ceredigion. These written works give an insight into medieval Wales.

Collections

There are several compilations of Welsh manuscripts. The most important, from a Welsh-language literature standpoint, are:

Individual manuscripts

Hendregadredd Manuscript ; circa 1300-1330sJuvencus Manuscript Book of the Anchorite of Llanddewibrefi Book of AneirinBook of Bicar WokingBook of Red AsaphRed Book of Hergest Red Book of NannauRed Book of TalgarthBlack Book of BasingwerkBlack Book of Carmarthen Black Book of ChirkBlack Book of TyddewiWhite Book of CorsygedolWhite Book of HergestWhite Book of Rhydderch Book of LlandafLichfield GospelsBook of Taliesin Peniarth 6 Peniarth 20