MS 180: Alexandreis by Walter of Châtillon [incomplete], 13th century
Contents
MS 180 contains a part of the Alexandreis, an epic poem by twelfth-century author, Walter of Châtillon. Walter's epic of Alexander the Great is written in hexameter verse and became a popular text in the Middle Ages. Written in the 1180s after Walter returned to France following his degree in law at the university of Bologna, the Alexandreis was requested by William, Archbishop of Rheims. This connection is explicit in the text, as the initials of each book of the poem spell 'Guillermus' (or 'William' in Latin). In addition to Walter's poem, MS 180 contains an extensive gloss. A popular medieval schoolbook, most of the surviving medieval manuscripts of the Alexandreis contain substantial glosses of the text.
In total, Walter's poem contains a prologue and ten books. MS 180 is missing the last four books, and Book VI is incomplete.
Contents
- ff. 1r-v: Prologus. Begins with the line Moris est usitati cum in auribus multitudinis aliquid
- ff. 1v-11v: Liber I. Begins with Primus aristotilis imbutum nectare sacro
- ff. 11v-20v: Liber II. Begins with the line Preparat ad pugnam Darium Persasque secundus
- ff. 20v-29v: Liber III. Begins with the line Tercius arma canit populosque in fata ruentes
- ff. 29v-41v: Liber IV. Begins with Quartus ad uxoris darii lacrimabile funis
- ff. 41v-43v: Liber V. Begins with Quintis habet strages varias et funera caris. Wants a whole gathering at the end, ending with line 105: Tune duos ante ora patris mucrone uorasti
- ff. 44r-48v: Liber VI. Begins with Sextus alexandrum luxu babilonis et auro. Book VI is not complete, and ends on line 321 with Me dignum sociis. de tot castrensibus ante.
A fair hand, with plain red book initials and smaller capitals touched with red. There is also a contemporary gloss.
Dates
- Creation: 13th century
Creator
- Walter, of Châtillon, fl 1170-1180 (French poet and theologian) (Author, Person)
Language of Materials
Latin
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Extent
1 bound MS volume
Custodial History
There are no clear indications of origin, but it may be an English manuscript. From the foliation it must originally have been part of a much larger volume. There are many entries denoting later (19th century) ownership, which indicate that it was in Germany prior to its acquisition by W. H. Black in 1851.
On a paper slip pasted on the inner board is the description :Gualteri ab Insults Alex'andreidos Libri (deest finis) Cod. Membran. Saeculi xiv. Cod. membranaceus versus 1380 scriptus. Prodivit e libris Mathiae Directoris Gymnasii Moenofr. [Frankfurt on Main] numero 1910. Ruf Loder [?]. A correction of the date on this slip is made by W. H. Black, who suggests thirteenth century.
On the fly-leaf opposite is Black's signature, Guil. Henrici Nigri, Codex, Londini, 7 Feb. 1851, followed by a pencil note, Olim Klaussii, referring possibly to the previous owner. The table of contents and bibliographical notes which follow are inserted by W. H. Black, as are also some pencil entries, from which it is just possible to pick out the date 1255 and a price 10s.
David Laing notes that he got the manuscript from Black's Sale in July 1873. The Catalogue of Sale (Sale Catalogue of W. H. Black, London, July 1873, p. 43, No. 794. B.M.S.-CS. 691 (1).) mentions the purchaser, 'Saunders,' and the price 14s.
The printed slip pasted on the inner board is not taken from Black's Catalogue.
Previous reference
Laing 189
Previous title
Title given to the manuscript in Catherine Borland's catalogue: Gualteri Philippi de Castellione Alexandreidos
Physical Facet
Material: vellum
Binding: Modern, lettered Gualteri Alexandreis Msc. membr.'
Collation: a6, b8—d8 (+4, +5), e7 (+1), f6, g5 (+i)=48. A good deal is missing between f and g, and also at the end.
Dimensions
22.07cm X 14.92cm
General
Secundo folio: quam large
Foliation and number of lines to a page: ff. 48, c. 28 lines to a page.
Creator
- Walter, of Châtillon, fl 1170-1180 (French poet and theologian) (Author, Person)
Subject
Source
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk