Peter Langtoft facts for kids

Peter Langtoft, also known as Peter of Langtoft, was an English historian who lived a long time ago. He was born around the 1200s and passed away around 1305. He got his name from a small village called Langtoft in Yorkshire, England.

Peter was a special kind of monk called an Augustinian canon regular. He lived at a place called Bridlington Priory. He spent his time writing a very important history book about England.

Peter Langtoft: A Medieval Historian

What Was Langtoft's Chronicle?

Peter Langtoft wrote a big history book called Langtoft's Chronicle. He wrote it in a special old French language called Anglo-Norman verse. This means it was written like a long poem.

His chronicle told the story of England from the very beginning. It started with a legendary hero named Brutus, who was said to have founded Britain. The story continued all the way to the death of King Edward I.

The first part of Langtoft's book was a translation of another famous work. It came from a book called Roman de Brut by a writer named Wace. The second part used information from many different sources. One of these was the Historia Anglorum by Henry of Huntingdon.

What Made His Chronicle Special?

The third part of Langtoft's Chronicle is thought to be Peter's own original work. In this section, he included details that no one else wrote down. For example, he wrote about what happened to Gwenllian. She was the daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who was the Prince of Wales.

Overall, his chronicle showed a strong dislike for Scotland. It famously included nine 'songs' or poems. These songs were written in both Anglo-Norman and Middle English. They were supposed to be the taunts and insults exchanged between English and Scottish soldiers. This happened during the fights between England and Scotland in the late 1200s and early 1300s.

How Was His Work Used Later?

Langtoft's Chronicle became an important source for other historians. Another writer named Robert Mannyng, also known as Robert of Brunne, used it. He wrote his own book called Middle English Chronicle. Robert Mannyng finished his work around the year 1338.

Many years later, in 1725, a person named Thomas Hearne published Peter Langtoft's chronicle. He published it in two volumes. It included Robert Mannyng's translation, illustrations, and improvements. This helped keep Peter Langtoft's important history alive for future generations.