LE3 .A278 2014

2014

MacDonald, Jennifer

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

History

History & Classics

The Lindisfarne Gospels, an illuminated Anglo-Saxon manuscript created between AD 698 and 720, provides a glimpse into the British Christian world of art ornamentation during the Early Middle Ages. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, scholarship regarding the Gospels has often focused on and debated the origin of the manuscript, as well as the validity of Aldred’s colophon. Although the Lindisfarne Gospels is often portrayed as a symbol of English nationalism, the manuscript at its core is a representation of the kingdom of Northumbria. The first part of this study explores the impact of the secular and ecclesiastic decisions respectively made by Northumbrian kings Oswald and Oswiu during the first half of the seventh century. Forming a relationship with the northern Irish territories through political and religious ties allowed Oswald to expand his kingdom and maintain a continued exchange of cultural influences between two regions. When Oswiu succeeded to the throne, he developed stronger ties to the kingdom of Kent through marriage, facilitating the eventual alignment of Northumbria with the Roman Church. Nonetheless, the Irish foundations in the north remained, as displayed by the fusion of motifs found throughout the Lindisfarne Gospels. The second part of this study analyzes the range of motifs used within the Lindisfarne Gospels and their significance as a representation of Northumbrian identity. The combination of Italian, Byzantine, Celtic, and Germanic motifs within the Gospels demonstrates the influx of influences to Northumbria during the seventh and eighth centuries. This thesis illustrates how the Lindisfarne Gospels was largely a reflection of Northumbria’s secular and ecclesiastic relations and decisions, asserting that this manuscript is a true representation of Northumbria identity and tradition.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1130