Story of pivotal English battle on show at castle

3 hours ago

Alan Webberin Lincoln

News image — The Chronica Majora tells the story of the Battle of Lincoln

Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge A medieval book open on a stand on a table, which a black background. The book has yellowing pages covered with five columns of densely written text and drawings around the edges. — The Chronica Majora tells the story of the Battle of Lincoln

Visitors to Lincoln Castle have the chance to see a medieval book highlighting the role the city played in shaping English history.

Chronica Majora includes the story of the Battle of Lincoln in 1217, which turned the tide of the First Baron's War and prevented a French takeover of the country.

The illustrated manuscript is on display alongside Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest until 25 May.

It is on loan from the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

The document is the second of three volumes written and illustrated by a medieval monk, Matthew Paris.

It features an account of how rebel barons invited Prince Louis of France to take the English throne from King John.

After John's death in 1216, the rebels and their French allies took over the City of Lincoln, but the castle, commanded by Lady Nicola de la Haye, remained loyal to the young King Henry III.

On 20 May 1217, a battle took place which ended in victory for the royalists.

Alan Webber, BBC A woman with blonde hair, wearing a cream and orange blouse and a blue jacket, smiles at the camera. She is standing in front of a building with a large marble-style sign, which has gold letters reading; The David PJ Ross Magna Carta Vault. — Dr Joanne Porter says the book chronicles a pivotal event in English history

Dr Joanne Porter, from Lincoln Castle, explained how the Chronica describes and illustrates a key moment in the battle: the death of rebel leader the Count of Perche.

"Unfortunately for him, a household knight actually manages to get his sword through the slit in his visor, so he meets an untimely end," she said. "And of course that moment sends the rebel forces into disarray."

Porter said she was delighted to have the book on display alongside the Magna Carta, from 1215, which was drafted just before the outbreak of the war, and the 1217 Charter of the Forest, which was part of the peace negotiations.

"It depicts such a pivotal moment in English history that happened basically right here," she added.

The Chronica Majora is on display in the David PJ Ross Magna Carta Vault at the castle.

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