De miraculis sanctae Mariae Laudunensis
De miraculis sanctae Mariae Laudunensis is a 12th‑century Latin work, usually credited to a monk named Herman. It tells of two fundraising tours by the canons of Laon Cathedral in 1112 and 1113, and it praises Barthélemy de Jur, the bishop of Laon. The book also includes curious mentions of Cornish stories about King Arthur, including beliefs that Arthur could survive, which have made the text especially interesting to Arthurian scholars. But it is also a useful historical source about English and French society in the early 1100s.
Herman the author was a monk who signs his name in the text. He is often identified with Herman of Laon or with Herman of Tournai, the abbot who wrote another work about the monastery at Tournai. He began De miraculis sometime between 1136 and 1142 and added to it again in 1143–1144 and 1146–1147. The first two books draw on eyewitness accounts, with some additions from other sources such as biographies, documents, and the Bible. The work is divided into three books.
Book 1 covers the history of Laon Cathedral, including a devastating fire in 1112, and introduces Barthélemy de Jur. It then recounts the cathedral’s fundraising campaign in 1112, when the relics were shown around northern France and miracles were reported during the tour.
Book 2 describes a second fundraising journey in 1113, made by nine canons of Laon after the first round of alms had been spent. The account gives the route and the miracles connected with each stop as they traveled through northern France and into southern England. They left Laon just before Palm Sunday, visiting Nesle, Arras, and Saint-Omer, then sailed from Wissant to England on April 25. Their voyage included a dramatic encounter with a pirate ship that was said to be dismasted by divine intervention. They reached Dover and Canterbury, where they were welcomed by the future archbishop William de Corbeil, and then moved on to Winchester, where two cures were performed. In Christchurch (Dorset) the locals treated them poorly, but the town afterward experienced a large fire described as being caused by a dragon after the canons left. The journey continued to Exeter, then back to Salisbury, where they cured a resident and were greeted by Bishop Roger and his nephews, who had been Laon students. They proceeded to Wilton, avoided Exeter again, and went on to Bodmin in Cornwall, where they had a dispute with the locals. They then visited Barnstaple and Totnes, where they were received as magicians; at Totnes one man tried to steal offerings by taking them into his mouth while kissing the shrine, and he died soon after, with the canons recovering the money. The route then took them to Bristol and Bath, where they are said to have saved a drowning boy. The account of the journey closes with their safe return to Laon on 6 September, bringing back about 120 marks plus tapestries and other ornaments.
Book 3 records the dedication of the rebuilt Laon cathedral in 1114 and praises Barthélemy’s work for the church and for the region, including his role in founding monasteries.
The second book contains two passages that have intrigued scholars because of Arthurian material. In one episode, the canons travel from Exeter to Bodmin and are shown places called Arthur’s Seat and Arthur’s Oven, described as in “terra Arturi” or Arthur’s land. Arthur’s Seat has not been conclusively identified, with guesses such as Crockern Tor or Warbstow Bury, while Arthur’s Oven is thought by some to be King’s Oven on Dartmoor. This passage is widely seen as the first record of Cornwall or the West Country claiming King Arthur for itself.
The second Arthur passage occurs at Bodmin, where a local person argues that Arthur is not dead “as the Bretons argue for Arthur.” A member of the Laon party mocked this claim, almost sparking a riot. This scene is valued by Arthurian scholars as early evidence of the belief in Arthur’s survival, Breton interest in Arthur, and the importance of Arthur to ordinary people. Dating this material has been debated: many scholars think Herman based the Bodmin episode on an eyewitness report from the Laon mission, while Christopher Michael Berard has argued it may be Herman’s own later interpolation. Even so, most accept that the first passage about Arthur’s Seat is authentic.
Overall, De miraculis sanctae Mariae Laudunensis is an important source for understanding church life, miracles, and travel in the early 12th century, as well as for the beginnings of Arthurian legend and Breton interest in King Arthur.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:17 (CET).