Chroniclers' Criticisms in the reign of King Richard I of England (1189-1199)

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Date

2019-04-26

Authors

Griffin, Richard

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Publisher

University of Guelph

Abstract

The twelfth century chronicles provide a major narrative historical source for the study of King Richard I. The chronicles under study here are Roger of Howden Chronica, William of Newburgh Historia Rerum Anglicarum, Ralph de Diceto Ymagines Historiarum and Richard of Devizes Chronicon De Rebus Gestis Ricardi Primi. These chroniclers were politically astute and their personal perceptions shaped the content and nuance of their histories. They employed historical allusion in order to comment and criticize aspects of Richard I’s reign through analysis of his father Henry II. The authority of chancellor made Thomas Becket and William Longchamp natural choices for comparison, and through them, an assessment of the stability of each king’s reign. The chroniclers equated the Sons’ Rebellion that plagued Henry II in the 1170s with John I’s erratic behaviour and betrayal of Richard I in the 1190s.

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Keywords

Middle Ages, chronicles, Plantagenet, Angevin, Henry II, Richard I, twelfth century

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