| Liber Eliensis | |
|---|---|
 Trinity College, Cambridge MS O.2.1 | |
| Also known as | Book of Ely Historia Eliensis |
| Author(s) | Unknown |
| Ascribed to | Thomas or Richard, monks of Ely |
| Language | Medieval Latin |
| Date | Early through second-quarter 12th century |
| Provenance | Ely Abbey |
| Manuscript(s) | Trinity College, Cambridge MS O.2.1 (E) Ely Cathedral Chapter (F) British Library MS Cotton Titus A.i (G) British Library Cotton Domitian MS A.xv (B) British Library MS Cotton Vespasian A.xix (A) |
| Genre | Chronicle |
| Subject | Account of the history of Ely Abbey and the Bishopric of Ely |
| Sources | Æthelwold of Winchester's Libellus Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People Florence of Worcester's Chronicon ex chronicis among others |
The Liber Eliensis[a] is a 12th-century English chronicle and history, written in Latin. Composed in three books, it was written at Ely Abbey on the island of Ely in the fenlands of eastern Cambridgeshire. Ely Abbey became the cathedral of a newly formed bishopric in 1109. Traditionally the author of the anonymous work has been given as Richard or Thomas, two monks at Ely, one of whom, Richard, has been identified with an official of the monastery, but some historians hold that neither Richard nor Thomas was the author.
The Liber covers the period from the founding of the abbey in 673 until the middle of the 12th century, building on earlier historical works. It incorporates documents and stories of saints' lives. The work typifies a type of local history produced during the latter part of the 12th century. Similar books were written at other English monasteries. The longest of the contemporary local histories, the Liber chronicles the devastation that the Anarchy caused during the reign of King Stephen. It also documents the career of Nigel, the Bishop of Ely from 1133 to 1169, and his disputes with King Stephen. Other themes include the miracles worked by the monastery's patron saint, Æthelthryth, and gifts of land to Ely.
Two complete manuscripts survive, complemented by partial manuscripts. The Latin text was published in 1962, and an English translation followed in 2005. Extracts had appeared in print earlier.
The Liber Eliensis provides an important history of the region and period it covers, and particularly for the abbey and bishopric of Ely.
- ^ Fairweather "Introduction" Liber Eliensis p. xiii
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