Rare 13th-Century Merlin and King Arthur Manuscript Discovered in Cambridge

Dr Irène Fabry-Tehranchi holding the rare King Arthur manuscript before inserting it into the Micro CT scanner in the Department of Zoology.

A rare 13th-century manuscript fragment containing medieval tales of Merlin and King Arthur has been unearthed in Cambridge—hidden in plain sight for centuries. The fragile parchment, used as binding material in a 16th-century archival register, was first spotted at Cambridge University Library in 2019 and has now been identified as a part of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin.

This French-language text is a sequel in the renowned Lancelot-Grail cycle, a medieval literary phenomenon that shaped Arthurian legend across Europe. Despite its once-widespread popularity, fewer than 40 manuscripts of the Suite Vulgate du Merlin are known to survive today, each one uniquely crafted by medieval scribes.

Experts date this newly discovered fragment between 1275 and 1315, making it a significant addition to the limited corpus of surviving Arthurian literature. The find offers fresh insight into how medieval stories of chivalry, magic, and kingship were preserved—and repurposed—through the centuries.

Dr Irène Fabry-Tehranchi, French Specialist in Collections and Academic Liaison at Cambridge University Library, was among those who first recognized the importance of the find as it relates to King Arthur.

“It was first thought to be a 14th century story about Sir Gawain but further examination revealed it to be part of the Old French Vulgate Merlin sequel, a different and extremely significant Arthurian text,” she said.

Given that all manuscripts of this era were painstakingly copied by hand, each bears the unique imprint of the medieval scribe who created it. This manuscript is thought to be an instance of the short version of the Vulgate Merlin about King Arthur, and even small errors—such as the substitution of “Dorilas” for “Dodalis”—provide crucial clues for Dr. Fabry-Tehranchi and her colleague Nathalie Koble (ENS Paris) to determine its place within the family tree of extant manuscripts.

The way the manuscript has been carefully executed, with decorated initials in red and blue, gave further clues to its origins and helped indicate that it was produced between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century, explained the researchers.

The text is written in Old French, the language of the court and aristocracy in medieval England following the Norman Conquest and this particular fragment belongs to the genre of Arthurian romances which were intended for a noble audience, including women.

“It’s not just about the text itself, but also about the material artefact,” added Fabry-Tehranchi. “The way it was reused tells us about archival practices in 16th-century England. It’s a piece of history in its own right.”

King Arthur is a central figure in the Arthurian legend, a sprawling body of medieval literature and folklore known as the Matter of Britain. He is typically depicted as a legendary British king who led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his historical existence, King Arthur remains a powerful and enduring figure in Western culture. His stories have been retold and reinterpreted countless times in literature, art, music, film, and other media, embodying ideals of chivalry, justice, and leadership. The Arthurian legend continues to fascinate and inspire audiences worldwide.