Cambridge University researchers successfully deciphered a 700-year-old manuscript fragment containing rare stories of King Arthur and the wizard Merlin. The manuscript, part of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin, was discovered in 2019 when it was found sewn into the binding of a 16th-century register book in the archives of Cambridge University Library. Over the centuries, the fragment had been folded, worn, and repurposed as a binding for land ownership lists.
Experts, including Irène Fabry-Tehranchi from the University of Cambridge, determined that the manuscript was created between 1275 and 1315. Multispectral imaging, computed tomography, and 3D modeling were employed to virtually unfold and read the parchment without causing further damage. “To prevent further damage, the researchers decided to scan the manuscript instead of separating it, as traditional conservation methods could have damaged it,” the team explained.
The preserved fragment contains two key episodes from the Arthurian legends. One scene recounts the victory of Christians over Saxons in the Battle of Cambrai. Another features Merlin, disguised as a harpist, who appears at King Arthur’s court during the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, reflecting his magical abilities and role as the king’s advisor.
The text is written in Old French, the language of the nobility in England after the Norman Conquest, indicating the scribe’s mastery of a dialect spoken by the British aristocracy. Fewer than 40 manuscripts of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin remain in the world, each differing in design and content because it was individually copied by medieval scribes. Medieval scribes worked by hand, making each manuscript unique.
The manuscript fragment’s discovery is notable not only for its content but also for how it survived through the centuries. The historical importance lies in the document’s preservation, having been hidden in plain sight within the binding of another book. The research team hopes that the project will inspire more studies on ancient manuscripts hidden in unexpected places.
To study the artifact without causing further damage, the researchers used digital technologies. “3D modeling helped to virtually ‘unfold’ the manuscript and recreate it in its original form,” the team noted.
Among the tools used was a multispectral camera capable of capturing dozens of images of each page at different wavelengths. Hundreds of images were taken under different angles and lighting, including UV and infrared, then assembled like a puzzle. This work allowed the researchers to read hidden areas of the text without unfolding the parchment or unsewing it.
The manuscript belongs to the genre of Arthurian romances, which were intended for a noble audience, including women. It reflects the popularity of Arthurian legends during that time, featuring themes such as forbidden love, magical wonders, and powerful knights with supernatural abilities. In England, the Lancelot-Grail Cycle was particularly popular for these reasons, as noted by Spektrum der Wissenschaft.
The stories contained in the manuscript include unique episodes about Merlin. One such episode describes Merlin carrying King Arthur’s standard on the battlefield, while another depicts him transforming into a blind harpist before disappearing. According to Femme Actuelle, these narratives emphasize Merlin’s enchantments and his pivotal role in Arthurian lore.
The researchers decided to preserve the manuscript in the place where it was found because it “tells about archival practices in England in the 16th century” and is “an independent part of history,” the researchers explained. Cambridge University also published a photograph of the manuscript, showing that it is crumpled and torn in some places, underscoring the fragility of the artifact.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
