Anglo-Norman Historiography and Henry of Huntingdon’s Translation of The Battle of Brunanburh

This article examines the poetic and philological methods Anglo-Norman historian Henry of Huntingdon uses to translate into Latin the Old English Battle of Brunanburh (Historia Anglorum [ca 1123–54]). It finds that, although Henry makes a good-faith effort to render the text accurately, his choices and occasional errors reflect his sensibilities as an historian and his orientation toward providential historiography. The Latin Brunanburh thus offers important insight into Henry’s consciousness as an historian and translator and into the reception of Old English poetry in the first century following the Conquest.