Medieval manuscripts blog

Bringing our medieval manuscripts to life

17 December 2015

Medieval Star Wars

It can hardly have escaped your notice that a rather major feature film opened across the world this week.  We all are awash in the sights, sounds, and excitement of the newest Star Wars movie, and as you know, the Medieval Manuscripts department is always eager to join in the fun.  It may seem a stretch to discuss medieval manuscripts in the context of a futuristic saga, but have no fear – we’ll give it a good try nonetheless. 

Add MS 11639 f. 517r c11803-08 copy
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… and you know the rest. Image of stars and the heavens from the Northern French Miscellany, France, 1277-1286, Add MS 11639, f. 517r

The jewel in our Star Wars crown is the very Yoda-like creature below, which can be found in an book of canon law now known as the Smithfield Decretals.  Written probably in Toulouse, the manuscript arrived in London in the early part of the 14th century, where numerous marginal illuminations were added.  When we first meet Yoda in the Empire Strikes Back, his age is given as 900 years, meaning that he would have been about 260 at the time of the illumination of the Smithfield Decretals.  It is therefore entirely possible (if not probable) that this is a portrait drawn from life.

Royal_ms_10_e_iv_f030v_detail
Detail of Yoda (or a look-alike), from the Smithfield Decretals, southern France (with marginal scenes added in London), c. 1300 – c. 1340, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 30v

Yoda is not the only inhabitant of the Star Wars universe to be found on the pages of our medieval manuscripts.  For example, a brief suspension of disbelief might allow one to see Leia wielding two light-sabres in the lady below.

Add_ms_36684_f003v_detail
Detail of a lady, from the St Omer Book of Hours, France, c. 1320, Add MS 36684, f. 3v

Chewbacca has a precursor in the wodewose or wild man, though these medieval half-human creatures did not generally cooperate with humanity quite as well as the noble Wookiee. 

Add_ms_42130_f070r_detail
Royal MS 2 B VII f. 173r G70031-80a
Details of wodewoses, from the Luttrell Psalter, England (Lincolnshire), 1325-1340, Add MS 42130, f. 70r, and 
from the Queen Mary Psalter, England, 1310-1320, Royal MS 2 B VII, f. 173r

With diligent searching, a whole host of other characters appears:

Harley_ms_3469_f018r_detail
An early Sith? Detail from the alchemical treatise Splendor Solis, Germany, 1582, Harley MS 3469, f. 18r

Cotton_ms_tiberius_b_v_f083v_detail
A progenitor of Bib Fortuna: detail of a panotii from the Marvels of the East, England (Canterbury), 2nd quarter of the 11th century, Cotton MS Tiberius B V, f. 83v

Add MS 26968 f. 284v d40054-21a
Royal MS 2 B VII f. 179v G70034-77a
Ewok-ish creatures: from an Italian rite prayer book, Italy, 1383, Add MS 26968, f. 284v, and from the Queen Mary Psalter, Royal MS 2 B VII, f. 179v

Yates_thompson_ms_13_f180v copy
Jedi or Jawa?  Detail from the Taymouth Hours, England (London?), 2nd quarter of the 14th century, Yates Thompson MS 13, f. 180v

Add_ms_42130_f048r_detail
A creature at home in Mos Eisley Cantina, from the Luttrell Psalter, Add MS 42130, f.48r

Royal_ms_10_e_iv_f116v_detail
An unguarded (and unhelmeted) Darth Vader, from the Smithfield Decretals, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 116v

We would love to see or hear about anything else that you might be able to come up with.  As always, you can leave a note in the comments below, or tweet us @BLMedieval.  May the force be with you!

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