Cartographie biocodicologique de la Cantilène de sainte Eulalie

The Cantilène de sainte Eulalie (BM Valenciennes, ms. 150) is a significant historical artefact from around 880, believed to have been part of the 12th-century collections of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux Abbey. It is considered the earliest known literary text in a Romance language, marking the rise of langue d’oïl and significant linguistic changes. Discovered in 1837, its origin is debated but likely from a 9th-century Lotharingian workshop. Traditionally, it has been studied paleographically and philologically, focusing on the text and its content. Library records and literature descriptions suggest an original Carolingian binding, implying all elements were from the same period. This paper challenges these assumptions through codicological analysis. Biomolecular and structural examinations reveal a Lotharingian origin but a non-original binding, indicating centuries of modifications.