The ''Liber Regalis'' (Latin for "Royal Book") is an English medieval
illuminated manuscript which was, most likely, compiled in 1382 to provide details for the
coronation service for
Richard II's consort,
Anne of Bohemia. Other sources suggest that it may have been compiled in 1308 for the coronation of
Edward II. The ''Liber Regalis'' contains the ''ordo'' (order) for the following events: the coronation of a king, a king and queen and a queen alone, and details regarding the funeral of a king; each
liturgy opens with a full-page illustration depicting the event.
The manuscript provided the order of service for all subsequent coronations up to, and including, that of
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...
. For the coronation of
James I James I may refer to:
People
*James I of Aragon (1208–1276)
*James I of Sicily or James II of Aragon (1267–1327)
*James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362), Count of Ponthieu
*James I, Count of Urgell (1321–1347)
*James I of Cyprus (1334–13 ...
the liturgy was translated into English. Nevertheless, with occasional adaptations to suit the political and religious circumstances of the time, the Liber Regalis remained the basis for all later coronation liturgies. The manuscript belongs to
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the Unite ...
(MS 38).
Bibliography
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*
References
14th-century books
14th-century illuminated manuscripts
Christian illuminated manuscripts
14th century in England
Westminster Abbey
Medieval documents of England
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