Researchers have identified an early medieval manuscript in the National Central Library of Rome that contains what is widely considered the first poem in the English language. The find offers new insight into the earliest stages of English literature.
The manuscript dates from the early 9th century, between about 800 and 830. It preserves a version of “Caedmon’s Hymn,” a short religious poem long regarded as the oldest surviving English verse.
What makes the manuscript unique
A team from Trinity College Dublin located the manuscript during a study of medieval texts in European collections. They confirmed its importance using both traditional analysis and digital tools.
The manuscript stands out because the Old English poem appears within the main Latin text. In earlier copies held at the University of Cambridge and the National Library of Russia, the Old English lines are placed in the margins or at the end. Researchers say this difference suggests early readers valued the original English language alongside Latin.
Origins of the first English poem
“Caedmon’s Hymn” is a nine-line poem that praises God for the creation of the world. It is linked to Caedmon, a farm laborer at Whitby Abbey.
According to accounts recorded by Bede, Caedmon composed the poem after a dream in which he was asked to sing about creation. The work survived because it was included in manuscripts of Ecclesiastical History of the English People, an 8th-century history written in Latin.
Lost manuscript rediscovered
Scholars say the manuscript was produced at the Abbey of Nonantola in northern Italy. It later had a complex history. During the Napoleonic Wars, it was moved to the church of San Bernardo alle Terme for safekeeping. It was later stolen and passed through private collections.
Milattan sonra 7’nci yüzyıla ait en eski İngilizce şiirlerden biri olan Cædmon’s Hymn’in kayıp bir kopyası Roma’da ortaya çıktı. Buluntu, erken İngilizcenin yazılı tarihine dair önemli ipuçları sunuyor.
Ayrıntılar #velev'de… pic.twitter.com/8StHkJcnpC
— velev (@velevnews) April 29, 2026
Because of this, researchers had considered the manuscript lost since 1975. It was only rediscovered after the library digitised its collection. Experts examining the digital version identified the Old English poem within the text.
Importance of early English literature
Researchers say the find offers valuable evidence about how early English writing was preserved. Bede had translated the poem into Latin rather than including the original version. This manuscript shows that the Old English text was added back into the work within about a century.
Experts say the discovery also highlights cultural links between England and Italy in the early Middle Ages. They note that growing access to digitised collections is helping scholars uncover overlooked texts and better understand the origins of English literature.
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