The Irish Annals: Their Genesis, Evolution and HistoryCollectively the Irish annals represent a substantial and important source for the history and culture of Ireland. These texts provide the primary witness for much of early medieval Irish history, and for many key events and persons up until c.1600. Many of the most important of these texts passed into the possession of 17th-century Anglo-Irish scholars, and it was principally their work which formed the basis for all modern scholarship on them. However, examination of their work shows that a number of the accepted hypotheses rest upon assertions of opinion, and are unsupported by any textual evidence. This book first re-examines the manuscript evidence, commencing with an account of the primary manuscript witnesses for the ten most characteristic annalistic texts. It then reviews the scholarly literature relating to the annalistic corpus and identifies those hypotheses that are not supported by the available evidence. Next, based upon a critical evaluation of both the textual and chronological characteristics of the texts, the book establishes, where possible, the place, author(s), time and salient characteristics of the compilations that have contributed to the development of these ten texts. The penultimate chapter reviews the chronology of these texts and identifies the basis for a synchronised chronology for them all. |
Contents
Chronicles and Annals origins compilation taxonomy | 1 |
Witnesses to the Annals the primary manuscripts | 17 |
xi | 37 |
Copyright | |
24 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
additions Annalistic Annals of Ulster appears Armagh Bede Bede's Book canons century chapter Christian chronological apparatus cited Clonmacnoise chronicle collation commenced common compilation complete conclude Connacht Consequently consider continued copy corresponding Cuana discussed Dublin earlier early ecclesiastical edition entries epactal evidence examination example extending fact ferial Figure Finally four hand hypothesis identified important interjections interpolated introduced Iona Ireland Irish kalends kings lacuna later Latin Mac Niocaill marginal material Mc Carthy monastery O'Conor obit omitted origin preface primary published range Rawl record references Regarding regnal reigns represent result scribe shows subsequent substantial succession suggest synchronized textual Tigernach translation Ua Caiside Uí Maoil Vulgate Ware written wrote