Higdon | |
|---|---|
 Ranulph Higden window | |
| Born | Ranulf Higden c 1280 West England |
| Died | 12 March 1364 n/a |
| Resting place | Chester Cathedral |
| Occupation(s) | Monk and theology scribe |
| Employer | Benedictine Abbey in Chester |
Ranulf Higden or Higdon (c. 1280–1363 or 1364) was an English chronicler and a Benedictine monk who wrote the Polychronicon, a Late Medieval magnum opus. Higden resided at the monastery of St. Werburgh in Chester after taking his monastic vow at Benedictine Abbey in Chester in 1299. Later in life he travelled to visit and counsel with King Edward III. Higden's remains are buried in Chester Cathedral.
Higden wrote many works, including the Polychronicon, Ars componendi sermones, and Speculum curatorum. Higden began compiling the Polychronicon, a seven-book series about world history written in Latin, during the reign of Edward III. He is sometimes associated with the Chester Plays, but there is also doubt surrounding this association. Ars componendi sermones and Speculum curatorum address religious topics.