Beowulf: Composition, Manuscript, and Early Reception (c. 700–1700)

1. Probable composition of *Beowulf* begins

   Jan 1, 700Labels: Beowulf, Early Medieval

   • Britannica
   • Beowulf Wiki

2. Nowell Codex likely copied by two scribes

   Jan 1, 1000Labels: Nowell Codex, Two Scribes

   • BL Catalogue
   • Beowulf Wiki

3. Nowell Codex compiled with “monstrous” texts

   Jan 1, 1000Labels: Nowell Codex, Marvels Anthology

   • BL Catalogue
   • Nowell Codex

4. Laurence Nowell inscribes his name in manuscript

   Jan 1, 1563Labels: Laurence Nowell, Ownership Mark

   • Nowell Codex
   • Arlima

5. Nowell Codex later bound with Southwick Codex

   Jan 1, 1600Labels: Nowell Codex, Southwick Codex

   • BL Catalogue
   • Nowell Codex

6. Manuscript enters Sir Robert Cotton’s library

   Jan 1, 1650Labels: Cotton Library, Sir Robert

   • Beowulf Wiki
   • Cotton Library

7. Cotton library bequeathed to the British nation

   Jan 1, 1700Labels: Cotton Library, British Nation

   • Beowulf Project
   • BM Object

8. Wanley catalogues the manuscript’s poem

   Jan 1, 1705Labels: Humfrey Wanley, Thesaurus

   • Gutenberg
   • Folger

9. Ashburnham House fire damages the Beowulf manuscript

   Oct 23, 1731Labels: Ashburnham House, Manuscript Damage

   • Ashburnham
   • 1731 Wiki

10. Cotton manuscripts transferred to the British Museum

    Jun 7, 1753Labels: British Museum, Cotton Collection

    • Cotton Library
    • BM Act 1753

11. Thorkelin produces two key transcripts of *Beowulf*

    Jan 1, 1787Labels: Gr mur, Transcripts

    • Cambridge Core
    • Kiernan UKY

12. Cotton manuscripts catalogue issued by command

    Jan 1, 1802Labels: Cotton Catalogue, British Museum

    • NLA Record

13. First printed edition of *Beowulf* published

    Jan 1, 1815Labels: Editio Princeps, Thorkelin

    • Goucher
    • Kiernan UKY

14. Manuscript stabilised by mounting leaves in frames

    Jan 1, 1845Labels: Conservation Mounting, Manuscript Stabilization

    • Nowell Codex
    • Ashburnham