Chronicles of Mann

The Chronicles of the Kings of Mann and the Isles[1] (Latin: Chronica Regum Manniæ et Insularum) or Manx Chronicle is a medieval Latin manuscript relating the early history of the Isle of Man.

The Chronicles are a look back, year-by-year from 1016, over the significant events in Manx history of that time.

Written in Latin, it records the island's role as the centre of the Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles, and the influence of its kings and religious leaders, as well as the role of Rushen Abbey itself – which was founded at the invitation of Olaf I Godredsson, one of the Norse kings.

Entries for the earlier years are notably shorter than those towards the end of the original section of the manuscript, no doubt due to later events having occurred within living memory of the time of writing, and thus more detail being available.

After the abbey was dissolved in 1540, the manuscript is thought to have passed through a number of private hands until being presented by Roger Dodsworth (d. 1654) to Sir Robert Cotton (d. 1631) in 1620/1.

The foundation of Rushen Abbey, 1134, in the Chronicles of Mann, from BL Cotton MS Julius A. VII, f. 35v