12th century in literature

The 12th century saw an increase in the production of Latin texts and a proliferation of literate clerics from the multiplying cathedral schools. At the same time, vernacular literatures ranging from Provençal to Icelandic embodied in lyric and romance the values and worldview of an increasingly self-conscious and prosperous courtly aristocracy. These two trends contributed to a sweeping revival of letters with a lasting influence on the development of literature in the following centuries.

Histories

 * early 12th c. Gesta Francorum
 * 1108 Dei gesta per Francos by Guibert of Nogent
 * c. 1136 Historia Regum Britanniae by Geoffrey of Monmouth
 * 1113 Chronicle of Nestor
 * 1122-1154 Peterborough Chronicle
 * early 12th c. Íslendingabók
 * ca. 1140 ''Chronicon Roskildense
 * ca. 1170 Chronicon Lethrense
 * 1171 Chronicon Slavorum by Adam of Bremen
 * Topographia Hibernica ("Topography of Ireland", 1188) by Gerald of Wales
 * 1190s Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja
 * late 12th c. Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus
 * Brevis Historia Regum Dacie by Sven Aggesen
 * Annales Lundenses
 * Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum by William of Tyre

Philosophy/Theology

 * ca. 1120 Sic et Non by Pierre Abélard
 * ca. 1150 - Hayy ibn Yaqdhan by Ibn Tufail
 * ca. 1150 - The Four Books of Sentences (Libri Quattuor Sententiarum) by Peter Lombard
 * ca. 1160 Policraticus by John of Salisbury

Biography/Hagiography

 * c. 1124 Vita Anselmi (life of Anselm of Canterbury) by Eadmer

Epic/Saga/Chanson du Geste

 * 1148 Alexiad by Anna Komnene
 * ca. 1160, Roman d'Enéas
 * ca. 1180 Chanson d'Antioche
 * late 12th c. Táin Bó Cúailnge
 * late 12th c. The Tale of Igor's Campaign
 * ca. 1200 Nibelungenlied
 * Digenis Acritas
 * Metrical Dindshenchas
 * Poetic Edda, possibly by Sæmundr fróði
 * ca. 12th c. The Knight in the Panther's Skin by Shota Rustaveli
 * ca. 12th c. Mabinogion
 * Chanson de Jerusalem

Romance

 * 1180s Perceval, le Conte du Graal by Chrétien de Troyes

Drama

 * Ludus de Antichristo

Lyric

 * late 12th c. Lais by Marie de France
 * 1140s-50s Goliardic poetry by Hugh Primas of Orléans
 * 1160s Goliardic poetry by the Archpoet

Authors

 * Chrétien de Troyes

See also:
 * 12th century in poetry
 * 11th century in literature
 * 13th century in literature
 * list of years in literature.