National Heroes and National Identity in the Auchinleck Manuscript (Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Adv. 19.2.1)

The early fourteenth-century Auchinleck Manuscript (Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland, Advocates, 19.2.1) proves paramount in both literary and identity-related political studies. As for the former, it contains twenty-three texts unique to it and several others in their oldest versions; as for the latter, it appears to be part of an attempt to construct a national identity distinct from that of France. This study will first analyse the manuscript’s physical aspects, history and relevance in order to determine whether its item selection was carefully planned in order to comply with a specific political agenda. The sole chronicle presented in the collection, The Anonymous Short English Metrical Chronicle, will be compared to its reputed sources in order to determine the extent to which it had been reworked and expanded to provide England with illustrious shared historical roots. Since the crusading imagery appears pervasive throughout the collection, all the texts connected with the struggle between Christians and Saracens will be also investigated. An in-depth analysis of Roland and Vernagu, Otuel a Knight and King Richard will be carried out in order to understand whether the Crusades were perceived as crucial in the construction of the English national identity. However, all national eposes need their heroes. These legendary figures serve the purpose of embodying the values considered foundational in a given community. Therefore, the last section will be devoted to those romances featuring English heroes, namely Of Arthour and of Merlin, Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild, Beues of Hamtoun and Guy of Warwick in order to uncover the traits of ideal English national heroes and kings.