What is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?
Q: What is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?
A: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. It was initially created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great.
Q: How many manuscripts exist today?
A: Nine manuscripts survive in whole or in part today.
Q: When was it first created?
A: The oldest version seems to have been started towards the end of Alfred's reign.
Q: Where are these manuscripts located?
A: Seven of them are located at British Library and two at Bodleian Library at Oxford and Parker Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
Q: What type of material does it contain?
A: The material contained within is mostly annals by year, with some dated as far back as 60 BC and others up to when it was written.
Q: Is this source unbiased?
A: No, there are occasions where comparison with other medieval sources makes it clear that scribes omitted events or told one-sided versions stories; there are also places where different versions contradict each other.
Q: Why is this source important for historians studying this period?
A: This source is important because much of its information cannot be found elsewhere and it provides insight into Middle English language development through its later Peterborough Chronicle version which is one of earliest examples existing today.
