John of Hexham facts for kids
John of Hexham (who lived from about 1160 to 1209) was an English historian. He is known for writing a book called Historia XXV. annorum. This book continued the history written by another monk, Symeon of Durham, and covered events in England from 1130 to 1153.
Contents
Who Was John of Hexham?
John of Hexham was a monk and a writer. He lived in Hexham Abbey, a monastery in northern England. We know his name and that he was the "prior" of Hexham. A prior is like a leader or manager of a monastery. He held this important job sometime between 1160 and 1209.
What Did He Write?
John's main work was the Historia XXV. annorum. This title means "History of 25 Years." It was a historical record that picked up where another famous history, the Historia regum, left off. John's book focused on events that happened in England during the mid-1100s.
How Accurate Was His Work?
John of Hexham was good at writing about events that happened close to him, especially in northern England. For example, he knew a lot about what was going on in his own region.
However, when he wrote about things happening further away, his information was not always perfect. Sometimes, his dates were wrong. For instance, he wrote that King Stephen of England attacked Oxford in 1145, but it actually happened in 1142. Also, from 1140 onwards, his dates were usually one year too late.
What Were His Sources?
John didn't just write his own thoughts. He also used information from other writers. He followed the history written by Richard of Hexham, who was a prior before him. John also included stories from other monks, like Serlo of Wilton and Abbot Aelred of Rievaulx. He even included a poem about the death of a Scottish leader named Somerled.
Where Can We Read His Work Today?
There is only one known copy of John of Hexham's history book from his time. It is a very old manuscript from the late 1100s. Today, you can find modern printed versions of his work. One of the best versions was put together by Thomas Arnold in 1885. There is also an English translation that was published in 1856.
