Camden’s Britannia Britannia, sive Florentissimorum Regnorum Angliæ, Scotiæ, Hiberniæ, et Insularem adiacentium ex intima antiquate, Chorographica descriptio: Nunc postremò recognita, plurimis locis magna accessione adaucta, & Chartis Chorographicis illustrate
Dublin Core
Title
Camden’s Britannia Britannia, sive Florentissimorum Regnorum Angliæ, Scotiæ, Hiberniæ, et Insularem adiacentium ex intima antiquate, Chorographica descriptio: Nunc postremò recognita, plurimis locis magna accessione adaucta, & Chartis Chorographicis illustrate
Creator
William Camden
Publisher
George Bishop, London
Date
1594
Caxton Club Member Contributions Item Type Metadata
Brief Notes on Book
Embossed Armorial Blazon
Essay
Camden is significant for getting a wealth of British topological information into print, and for noting the value of topography in evaluating historical evidence. This submission is made in conjunction with a related entry from Charles Adams Kelly. Our research, focused on the events of 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, began with the popular notion that Duke William of Normandy landed at Pevensey Castle and proceeded quickly to Hastings, both locations easily found on modern maps.
Camden noted that the location of the “Hastings” of early accounts referred to some location other than modern Hastings, which did not exist in 1066. We began to question several locations cited in popular histories. For example, in 1066 the Pevensey Castle location was called Anderitum, from Roman times. The Pevensey of accounts contemporary to the time, might have been any of several locations around the lagoon separating the castle location from the Hastings peninsula. Also, research maps of the 1066 Sussex coastline reveal that the lagoon would have prevented any timely move to the Hastings area, and would have forced William to split his army.
Our copy of the Camden is an inspirational artifact rather than a research resource. The contemporary boards are well preserved and bear an armorial blazon, and the re-backing has been done seamlessly. Thus, it is easy to hold this special item in one’s hands while imagining some yet to be identified noble personage holding it, also.
Camden noted that the location of the “Hastings” of early accounts referred to some location other than modern Hastings, which did not exist in 1066. We began to question several locations cited in popular histories. For example, in 1066 the Pevensey Castle location was called Anderitum, from Roman times. The Pevensey of accounts contemporary to the time, might have been any of several locations around the lagoon separating the castle location from the Hastings peninsula. Also, research maps of the 1066 Sussex coastline reveal that the lagoon would have prevented any timely move to the Hastings area, and would have forced William to split his army.
Our copy of the Camden is an inspirational artifact rather than a research resource. The contemporary boards are well preserved and bear an armorial blazon, and the re-backing has been done seamlessly. Thus, it is easy to hold this special item in one’s hands while imagining some yet to be identified noble personage holding it, also.
Files
Citation
William Camden, “Camden’s Britannia Britannia, sive Florentissimorum Regnorum Angliæ, Scotiæ, Hiberniæ, et Insularem adiacentium ex intima antiquate, Chorographica descriptio: Nunc postremò recognita, plurimis locis magna accessione adaucta, & Chartis Chorographicis illustrate,” Caxton Club Exhibits, accessed April 27, 2024, https://caxtonclub.omeka.net/items/show/43.