Matthew Paris was a Benedictine monk at St Albans Abbey in England during the 13th century. He is widely regarded as one of the most important English chroniclers and historians of the Middle Ages. His major work, the Chronica Majora, provides a detailed and often critical history of events from the creation of the world up to his own time. Beyond his extensive writing, Paris was also a talented artist, known for his illuminated manuscripts, drawings, and early maps.