John Hexham Medieval English historian of the second half of the 12th century. Date of Birth: 01.01.1160

1. John of Hexham: A Medieval Chronicler
2. "Historia XXV. annorum"
3. Northern Perspective
4. Chronological Inaccuracies
5. Incorporating Contemporaneous Accounts

John of Hexham: A Medieval Chronicler

John of Hexham, a medieval English historian, served as the prior of Hexham Priory in Northumberland during the latter half of the 12th century. Elected around 1160, he held the position until 1209.

"Historia XXV. annorum"

John's sole surviving work is the chronicle "Historia XXV. annorum," which continues the historical account of the region begun by Simeon of Durham. The chronicle covers events in England from 1130 to 1153.

Northern Perspective

While the early sections of the chronicle largely follow the work of Richard of Hexham, John provides a relatively independent account of the period after 1139. His local knowledge makes his chronicle particularly valuable for North England.

Chronological Inaccuracies

Despite the chronicle's value, John's chronology is often inaccurate. Notably, he misdates the siege of Oxford by Stephen of Blois to 1145 (it actually occurred in 1142), and many dates after 1140 are off by a year.

Incorporating Contemporaneous Accounts

John incorporated contemporary descriptions of the Battle of the Standard into his chronicle, including Ailred of Rievaulx's prose account, a monk named Serlo's verse account, and an anonymous Glasgow priest's lament for the death of Somerled, King of the Isles.