The Carmen de Hastingae proelio of Guy, Bishop of Amiens

The Carmen de Hastingae proelio, or Song of the Battle of Hastings, is a pivotal Latin poem attributed to Guy, Bishop of Amiens, composed shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It serves as one of the most significant near-contemporary accounts of the battle, offering a pro-Norman perspective that contrasts with later historiography. This specific 1972 edition published by Clarendon Press represents a critical scholarly effort to formalize the text, meticulously edited by Catherine Morton and Hope Muntz to provide a definitive version for medievalists.

The design and commentary within this edition reflect the rigorous academic standards of Oxford University Press's scholarly wing. By focusing on the linguistic nuances of the original Latin and providing extensive historical context, the editors aimed to bridge the gap between the original manuscript traditions and modern historical analysis. It was received as a standard reference work, valued for its attempt to reconcile the poem's propagandistic nature with the established archaeological and historical timeline of the conquest.