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Arnaud Héroult
Published on
Dec 13 2024 at 6:50 p.m.
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“It’s a gift from heaven. » As Christmas approaches, Julie Deslondes, the director of Calvados archives couldn't dream of better at the foot of his tree. Its department revealed on December 10, 2024 the acquisition of an illuminated manuscript which dates from… 1495, therefore more than 500 years old!
A unique and rare piece
Archivist in Caen since 2008, she does not hesitate to say that “it is one of the greatest acquisitions of my (her) career. » The work is not imposing, however: 22 cm by 15.5 cm. Nor very voluminous: 12 folios, or 48 pages. “But it is very beautiful and bears witness to the history of Caen.”
It is a unique piece, probably written and illuminated in Caen. It is very rare to find a medieval manuscript
A testimony from the beginning of the University of Caen
This notebook from the end of the 15th century “looks a bit like a regulation and the internal functioning of the Collège du Bois”, which was one of the five establishments of the University of Caen founded in 1432, one of the oldest in France. “The manuscript is the first copy of the college’s statutes,” continues Julie Deslondes. A testimony of “the creation and recreation of the University of Caen after the 100 Years War. »
“An exceptional piece”, which no one knew existed. “We knew the text because there were copies, but the manuscript did not enter the public archives during the Revolution. »
The Collège du Bois in Caen: a “treasure” still visible in this hairdressing salon!
Élodie is the Octobre Coiffure manager at 17 rue Saint-Sauveur in Caen, which houses “a little treasure”. A business that seems to have come out of the set of a Harry Potter film. It is here that we find what remains of the old Bois College. In particular the exposed Caen stone vaults which date from the 12th century.
“New customers are always surprised when they come in and there are a lot of tourists looking at the door, because there is also a plaque from the city of Caen which reminds us of what was there before.” Elodie would like to know more about the history of the building and the college: “lots of clients ask me,” she confides, always so happy to work in this unique place: “sincerely, it’s the most beautiful city hair salon.” We can't blame him.
No one knew the manuscript existed
It was a Parisian bookseller who aroused the interest of the Department of Calvados when, via the Ministry of Culture, the Calvados archives learned that the manuscript was for sale. An American buyer has made an offer, but the seller must warn the French state of a possible exit from the territory of “a historic piece. Everything went well, the archives were able to acquire it, it fell within our budget,” explains Julie Deslondes. The purchase price? “A reasonable amount, not very high for this type of document. A few thousand euros,” the curator agrees to reveal.
Still many questions to answer
The story is beautiful, but in no way complete. Quite the contrary. For example, we don't know where the book came from, who put it on sale or what its history has been since 1495. “There is still research to be done. I am going to tackle the translation of the manuscript which is in Latin”, announces the general curator of Heritage for whom there is no shortage of questions: “does there exist a single copy? Why is it illuminated? What is the history of Bois College? »
We don't know a lot, there are still mysteries.
Soon to be exhibited
Within the 60 km of Calvados archives which go “from the 11th century to the present day”, the manuscript will in any case have a special place. “It is very well preserved, but it is fragile” and therefore needs to be protected.
By chance in history, as the millennium of the city of Caen approaches, which will be celebrated in 2025, the little notebook will be highlighted. “There will be guided tours and the objective will then be to regularly exhibit it to the public,” promises Julie Deslondes. She reminds us that the fantastic find, digitized, can be seen by everyone from now on. Just go to the archives website: archives.calvados.fr. In one click, we take a leap back 529 years!
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