A critical edition of the 12th century Latin epic poem Historia Vie Hierosolimitane by Gilo of Paris and a second, anonymous, poet with introduction, notes and indexes

Abstract

This edition of the Historia Vie Hierosolimitane, a 12th century Latin epic poem by Gilo of Paris and a second, anonymous, poet, is based on a critical examination of the text as it is found in all the known MSS which contain the work, the relations of which are discussed and a stemma established. All variants found in the MSS are listed in an apparatus criticus at the foot of each page of the text.

A survey of the orthographical variants of the MSS is also included. Notes on linguistic, literary and historical features found in the poem are detailed, together with maps and indexes. Stylistic features of the poem are examined in a prefaratory essay, and earlier works which may have influenced the poets are noted in an apparatus fontium.

An examination is made of the authorship and date of the work, together with a study of the life of the known poet, Gilo of Paris.

There is a tentative survey of the inter-relationships of the various primary sources of information on the First Crusade, both Latin and vernacular, and note has been taken of critical work done in this field. Special emphasis is placed on the position of Gilo and of the Charleville poet in the relationships of the different sources, and their debt to them.

All work is my own, unless specifically attributed to another source. This research was undertaken with the assistance of grants from the Central Research Fund of the University of London.