"Lambert of Saint-Omer" redirects here. For the chronicler and abbot, see Lambert of Saint-Bertin.
Liber Floridus ("Book of Flowers") is a medieval encyclopedia that was compiled between 1090 and 1120 by Lambert, Canon of Saint-Omer.[2] The text compiles extracts from some 192 or so different works.[3]
Lambert at work. Excerpt from the manuscript "Liber Floridus". Preserved in the Ghent University Library.[1]Lambert, Canon of St. Omer, Liber Floridus (Lille and Ninove, 1460)
Lambert's medieval encyclopedia contains a universal history, a chronological record of events to the year 1119. These are of Biblical, astronomical, geographical, philosophical and natural history subjects. Lambert wrote Liber Floridus originally in Latin, and later it was translated into French as Le Livre fleurissant en fleurs. A detailed description is in the Historia comitum Normannorum, comitum Flandriae.[4]
The Liber Floridus was the first of the encyclopedias of the High Middle Ages that slowly superseded the work of Isidore of Seville.[5] The original manuscript, completed in 1120 and dedicated to Saint Omer by Lambert, has been preserved in the Ghent University Library,[1] though its latter portion has not survived.[6] A copy is in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.[7] There is also a copy in the Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel, Germany.[3] There may be as many as six additional extant manuscript copies, dating from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries and produced in France or Flanders.[8]Liber Floridus has the reputation of being one of the most famous encyclopedias of the Middle Ages.[9]
Liber Floridus includes various maps including a mappa mundi. The Ghent manuscript, being the oldest of the known copies and dating from earlier than 1125, includes a map of parts of Europe and two climate-zone drawings based on the Macrobian model as an attempt to make a complete world map. The parts of the European map sketch show interesting and odd representations. This manuscript and the associated maps are believed to have been done personally by Lambert.[3]
World map of 12th century
The Wolfenbüttel and Paris copies with their European "mappa mundi" date from somewhere around 1150. Historians do not believe these were done by Lambert. R. Uhden points out[10] that the world map in the Wolfenbüttel copy has a legend saying the original source was from Martianus Capella (fl. 410 - 439). This reference has been backed up by information found in various other inscriptions on the map that are passages from Martianus' Satyricon, also known as De Nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii.[3]
Lambert collected his material from such sources as Isidore's Etymologiae, the Historia Brittonum, and the crusade chronicle of Bartolf of Nangis. Lambert frequently mentions crusaders from Saint-Omer and elsewhere, whom he presumably met when they returned home.[11] In 1968 Albert Derolez published a copy of the Ghent manuscript, with historical and palaeographical introductions. It included a number of photographs of the original manuscript pages.[12]
The Liber has sometimes been incorrectly attributed to Lambert of St-Bertin, a monk at the Abbey of Saint Bertin. The compiler of the Liber was a canon at the nearby church of Our Lady of Saint-Omer. His father, Onulfus, had also been a canon at the same church.[13]
^Albert Derolez, The autograph manuscript of the Liber Floridus: a key to the encyclopedia of Lambert of Saint-Omer, 1998. See more recently A. Derolez, The Making and Meaning of the Liber Floridus. A Study of the Original Manuscript, Ghent, University Library, MS 92 (= Studies in Medieval and Early Renaissance Art History 76), Turnhout: Harvey Miller, 2015 (ISBN978-1-909400-22-1)
^ abcd. Henry-davis.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
^Its contents were fully listed and summarized by L. Delisle, "Notice sur les MSS du 'Liber Floridus' composé en 1120 par Lambert, chânoine de Saint-Omer", Notices et extraits des MSS du Bibliothèque Nationale, 38.2 (Paris, 1903), pp 577-791.
^"The Medieval Bestiary - Lambert of Saint-Omer". Bestiary.ca. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
^"Hanna Vorholt: Tradition and Transformations. The illustrated Manuscripts of the "Liber Floridus" by Lambert of Saint-Omer". Imprs-hist.mpg.de. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
^Penelope C. Mayo, "The crusaders under the palm: allegorical plants and cosmic kingship in the 'Liber Floridus'" (Dumbarton Oaks Papers 27, 1973), pg. 39.
^Derolez, Lamberti S. Audomari Canonici Liber Floridus: Codex Autographus Bibliothecae Universitatis Gandavensis (Ghent, 1968).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liber Floridus.
Herbermann, Charles George, The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church, Encyclopedia Press, 1913
External links
[1] - a website from the Ghent University Library on the history of the manuscript, its contents, and its creator, including many more images from the Liber Floridus
The full text of the book at Google Books
August 15, 2023
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Lambert of Saint Omer redirects here For the chronicler and abbot see Lambert of Saint Bertin Liber Floridus Book of Flowers is a medieval encyclopedia that was compiled between 1090 and 1120 by Lambert Canon of Saint Omer 2 The text compiles extracts from some 192 or so different works 3 Lambert at work Excerpt from the manuscript Liber Floridus Preserved in the Ghent University Library 1 Lambert Canon of St Omer Liber Floridus Lille and Ninove 1460 Lambert s medieval encyclopedia contains a universal history a chronological record of events to the year 1119 These are of Biblical astronomical geographical philosophical and natural history subjects Lambert wrote Liber Floridus originally in Latin and later it was translated into French as Le Livre fleurissant en fleurs A detailed description is in the Historia comitum Normannorum comitum Flandriae 4 The Liber Floridus was the first of the encyclopedias of the High Middle Ages that slowly superseded the work of Isidore of Seville 5 The original manuscript completed in 1120 and dedicated to Saint Omer by Lambert has been preserved in the Ghent University Library 1 though its latter portion has not survived 6 A copy is in the Bibliotheque Nationale Paris 7 There is also a copy in the Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbuttel Germany 3 There may be as many as six additional extant manuscript copies dating from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries and produced in France or Flanders 8 Liber Floridus has the reputation of being one of the most famous encyclopedias of the Middle Ages 9 Liber Floridus includes various maps including a mappa mundi The Ghent manuscript being the oldest of the known copies and dating from earlier than 1125 includes a map of parts of Europe and two climate zone drawings based on the Macrobian model as an attempt to make a complete world map The parts of the European map sketch show interesting and odd representations This manuscript and the associated maps are believed to have been done personally by Lambert 3 World map of 12th centuryThe Wolfenbuttel and Paris copies with their European mappa mundi date from somewhere around 1150 Historians do not believe these were done by Lambert R Uhden points out 10 that the world map in the Wolfenbuttel copy has a legend saying the original source was from Martianus Capella fl 410 439 This reference has been backed up by information found in various other inscriptions on the map that are passages from Martianus Satyricon also known as De Nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii 3 Lambert collected his material from such sources as Isidore s Etymologiae the Historia Brittonum and the crusade chronicle of Bartolf of Nangis Lambert frequently mentions crusaders from Saint Omer and elsewhere whom he presumably met when they returned home 11 In 1968 Albert Derolez published a copy of the Ghent manuscript with historical and palaeographical introductions It included a number of photographs of the original manuscript pages 12 The Liber has sometimes been incorrectly attributed to Lambert of St Bertin a monk at the Abbey of Saint Bertin The compiler of the Liber was a canon at the nearby church of Our Lady of Saint Omer His father Onulfus had also been a canon at the same church 13 Page examples Depicted The Beast Apocalypse Page scan B three unclean spirits a beast and a false prophet Page scan C Plants and Flowers Liber Floridus explains how the world will end See also EditGenealogia comitum FlandrensiumNotes Edit a b Liber Floridus manuscript lib ugent be Retrieved 2020 08 26 Albert Derolez The autograph manuscript of the Liber Floridus a key to the encyclopedia of Lambert of Saint Omer 1998 See more recently A Derolez The Making and Meaning of the Liber Floridus A Study of the Original Manuscript Ghent University Library MS 92 Studies in Medieval and Early Renaissance Art History 76 Turnhout Harvey Miller 2015 ISBN 978 1 909400 22 1 a b c d Index of Cartographic Images Illustrating Maps of the Early Medieval Period 400 1300 A D Henry davis com Archived from the original on 2012 02 18 Retrieved 2012 05 24 Herbermann pp 758 759 Narrative Sources It is MS Gandensis 92 Its contents were fully listed and summarized by L Delisle Notice sur les MSS du Liber Floridus compose en 1120 par Lambert chanoine de Saint Omer Notices et extraits des MSS du Bibliotheque Nationale 38 2 Paris 1903 pp 577 791 The Medieval Bestiary Lambert of Saint Omer Bestiary ca Retrieved 2012 05 24 Hanna Vorholt Tradition and Transformations The illustrated Manuscripts of the Liber Floridus by Lambert of Saint Omer Imprs hist mpg de Retrieved 2012 05 24 Uhden Die Weltkarte des Martianus Capella Penelope C Mayo The crusaders under the palm allegorical plants and cosmic kingship in the Liber Floridus Dumbarton Oaks Papers 27 1973 pg 39 Derolez Lamberti S Audomari Canonici Liber Floridus Codex Autographus Bibliothecae Universitatis Gandavensis Ghent 1968 Derolez The autograph manuscript pg 11 Sources Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liber Floridus Herbermann Charles George The Catholic Encyclopedia An International Work of Reference on the Constitution Doctrine Discipline and History of the Catholic Church Encyclopedia Press 1913External links Edit 1 a website from the Ghent University Library on the history of the manuscript its contents and its creator including many more images from the Liber Floridus The full text of the book at Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liber Floridus amp oldid 1164971764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
