Polydore vergil 1470 april 18, 1555, english diplomat. Nov 28, 2012 polydore vergils english history, from an early translation preserved among the mss. One of his earlier works generated a bit of controversy with erasmus arguments about who published what first, who was the best, the normal sort of spat in which academics delight. Vergil, polydore article about vergil, polydore by the. The work itself is worth much attention if only as the first modern history of england, the farewell to the chronicle and the herald of the new national, analytic story which has persisted to our own day. Three aspects to the reputation of polydore vergil in the. The denunciation of polydore vergil in my article entitled why all the fuss about geoffrey i explained how polydore vergil denounced the history of the britons welsh as obscure, uncertain and unknown.
His anglica historia, 26 books long, was printed in basel in 1534, but was only complete in 1555 when a final book dealing with the reign of henry viii was added to the third edition. Polydore virgil article about polydore virgil by the free. Federigo veterani, polydore vergils anglica historia. Richard had come within a swords length of henry tudor before being surrounded by sir william stanleys men and killed. History, sources, middle ages, accessible book, english history, england.
Historia anglica, 1555 latin edition vergil, polydore on. Three books of polydore vergils english history book. Shakespeares possible use of polydore vergils anglica. Polydore vergil birthplaceurbino diedmonday, april 18, 1555 nationalityitalian. The section of vergil s work dealing with richard iii books 2325 are available online through the richard iii society see the link above. In that history, anglica historia, henry was described. The manuscript of polydore vergils anglica historia. This is the first book devoted to a study of the works of polydore vergil, surely a matter calling for surprise rather than apology. It was reported by polydore vergil, who was the official historian of henry vii, wrote. Mar 26, 2014 on this occasion, i decided to focus my attention on polydore vergil because he and his history the anglica historia tells us something interesting about how scholars wrote about other scholars in the sixteenthcentury, and how in some cases a reputation can be subverted for polemical gain. Immediately download the polydore vergil summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching polydore vergil. Buy polydore vergil, his chapters on the history of physick and his anglica historia. References to the text below are to pages of the latin version, if necessary to the relevant line separated from the page by a point. Then was i, virgil, nursed by sweet parthenope, joyous in the pursuits of obscure retirement.
Polydore vergil was a kinsman of cardinal hadrian castellensis, a native of castro in etruria. Kingsfords english historical literature in the fifteenth century was published in 19. Polydore vergil s english history, from an early translation preserved among the mss. Polidoro virgili, commonly latinised as polydorus vergilius, or anglicised as polydore vergil or virgil, and often known as polydore vergil of urbino c. His health now, it would appear, began to fail historia, ed. Polydore vergil the art and popular culture encyclopedia. Polydore vergil first came to england from his native italy in 1502 and, apart from brief absences, spent most of his life there until his final return to italy in 1553. Catholic encyclopedia 19polydore vergil wikisource. Vergil was born at urbino, or more probably at fermignano, within the duchy of urbino. Three books of polydore vergil s english history book.
His father, giorgio di antonio, owned a dispensary. With this in view the trustees of the arnold historical prize fund in the university of oxford. It appears that he attended the universities of both padua and bologna. His fathers name is said to have been george virgil. Polydore vergil wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The will of polydore vergil transactions of the royal. The two volumes it is contained in were presented to the ducal library at urbino in 16 by vergil s grandnephew. Vergil was a native of urbino in italy, and came from a family with a history of scholarship. Html markup and proofing by jeff wheeler, san jose state university p.
From an early translation, preserved among the mss. His importance in the development of english historiography has been evident since c. Polydore vergil or virgil widely known as polydore vergil of urbino, was an italian humanist. Dictionary of national biography, 18851900, volume 58. Double click on the title to open a new window and the online version of vergil s unashamedly pro. In the past the anglica historia has sometimes been attributed to federico veterani. It is thought that he began writing the anglica historia in 1505, although it wasnt published until 1534. He was hired by king henry viii of england, who wanted to distance himself from his father henry vii as much as possible, to document both his and his fathers lives. Quoting the twelfthcentury historian, william of newburgh, he writes that.
Vergils history of england, the anglica historia, was begun at the instigation of king. This invited sharp criticism from the welsh, and particularly from john price and humphrey lloyd. London, offices of the royal historical society, 1950. In his anglica historia 1534, polydore vergil published his scathing comments about geoffrey of monmouth, which subsequently ignited a debate over the veracity of the historia regum britanniae. Royal historical society, 1950 great britain 373 pages. Just before the turn of the century vergil published prouerbiorum libellus or adagia and the innuentoribus rerum, both of which became extremely popular immediately. Three books of polydore vergil s english history, comprising the reigns of henry vi. This chapter focuses first, on the most famous of those official histories, the anglica historia of polydore vergil, before proceeding to a text whose generic instability and unfinished state suggest a potentially subversive reading of not just tyranny in general, but of the role a queen might play in a dangerous power strugglesir thomas. He is particularly remembered for his works the proverbiorum libellus 1498, a collection of latin. As this essay will show, his radical solution to its problems was based upon his reading of the churchs. Hay, the anglica historia of polydore vergil, ad 14851537.
Three books of polydore vergils english history, comprising the. Polydore vergil article about polydore vergil by the free. Polydore vergil, born in italy, wrote an english history. The auctoritas of geoffrey of monmouth cardiff medieval and. Venice see also the partial edition and translation by d. Polydore vergil, his chapters on the history of physick and. Running to twentysix books in total, the anglica historia covers the wars of the roses in books 2325. Polydore vergil and historia anglia the history of england. The burgundian chronicler jean molinet says that a welshman struck the deathm blow with a halberd while richards horse was.
May 14, 20 full text of three books of polydore vergils english history, comprising the reigns of henry vi. Aug 15, 2016 in his anglica historia 1534, polydore vergil published his scathing comments about geoffrey of monmouth, which subsequently ignited a debate over the veracity of the historia regum britanniae. Vergil, polydore dnb00 wikisource, the free online library. The auctoritas of geoffrey of monmouth cardiff medieval. Three books of polydore vergil s english history comprising the reigns of henry vi. I, containing the first eight books, comprising the period prior to the norman conquest london. Read the fulltext online edition of three books of polydore vergil s english history, comprising the reigns of henry vi. Hearne, oxford, 1716 and 1745 the song of the lady bessy. Read the fulltext online edition of three books of polydore vergils english history, comprising the reigns of henry vi. Polydore vergil richard iii society american branch. He is better known as the contemporary historian during the early tudor dynasty. Added interest was given to the historia by cardinal. Anglica historia encyclopedia of the wars of the roses. About thirty of these consist of translations or abridgments into italian, spanish, french, german, and english.
Hallls description of henry vii was certainly seconded by polydore vergil an italian priest who was commissioned by henry vii to write a history of britain. Although he stated in the preface that it was of the hand of polydore vergil, there has been some debate about the authorship of the work. The anglica historia of polydore vergil, ad 14851573 trans. So i sang, above, of the care of fields, and herds, and trees besides, while mighty caesar thundered in battle, by the wide euphrates, and gave a victors laws. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Vergil is best remembered for his anglica historia 1532, the first account of english history to combine narrative with. Polydore vergil, original name polidoro vergilio, born c. Polydore vergil article about polydore vergil by the. Polydore vergil was an italianborn humanist who wrote an english history that became required reading in schools and influenced the 16thcentury english chroniclers edward hall and raphael holinshed and, through them, shakespeare. His greatgrandfather, antony vergil, had been doctor of physic and philosophy and reader in the university of paris. Three books of polydore vergils english history, comprising. Clarissimi cujusque seculi scriptoribus judicia traduntur see dictionary of. Three books of polydore vergils english history, comprising the reigns of henry vi. Served at the court of the duke of urbino and in the papal curia.
Hay, the manuscript of polydore vergil s anglica historia, ante, liv 1939, 24051. Having studied at bologna and padua, he became successfully secretary to the duke of urbino and chamberlain to alexander vi. Reprinted from bulletin of the history of medicine, etc by john farquhar fulton, polydorus vergilius isbn. Polydore vergils english history, from an early translation preserved among the mss. Also known as polidoro virgili or polydorus vergilius. Polydore vergil was born in or around 1470 in urbino. His grandfather, antonio virgili, a man well skilled in medicine and astrology, had taught philosophy at the university of paris. He is particularly remembered for his works the proverbiorum libellus 1498, a collection of latin proverbs. Shakespeares possible use of polydore vergils anglica historia in. Polydore vergil arrived in england in 1502 to collect peters pence but as a humanist scholar henry vii was keen to have him on board. The first edition of his anglica historia, consisting of twentysix books and. On the contrary, hay translator of the anglica historia, and vergils biographer suggested, as long ago as 1952, that shakespeare, since he was faced with the. He studied at bologna and padua, served as secretary to the duke of urbino, was chamberlain to pope alexander vi, and was sent to england as subcollector of peters pence peters pence, in the roman catholic church, the annual voluntary laymens contribution to the support of the pope.
173 203 1379 1512 919 703 199 994 1170 1469 1404 1414 1203 960 903 472 11 586 496 896 706 1120 237 493 765 949 830 1021 693 1361 729 828 301 1289 1179 541 1351 1374 867 687 1054 71 1080 16 1261 869 510 133 874 710