Chronica Boemorum

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Page from the Chronica Boemorum

The Chronica Boemorum ( Chronicle of Bohemia ; Czech Kosmova kronika česká ; also Kosmova Kronika Čechů ) was written by the Bohemian historian Cosmas of Prague in the years 1119-1125.

Structure and meaning

The Chronica Boemorum , which also reproduces the history of Moravia , initially deals with the prehistory of Bohemia based on myths and legends . It tells the myth of the tribe's arrival in the country and tells the names and deeds of the first legendary rulers . Then it describes the history of the country under the rule of the Přemyslids up to the year 1125. The church conditions at that time and the essential sources available at that time were taken into account.

The Chronica Boemorum comprises three books:

  • The first begins with the legendary prehistoric times of Bohemia (forefather Čech ) and extends to the first Christian Duke Bořivoj and then to the accession of Břetislav I in 1034.
  • The second book will be more historical. It covers the time until 1092, when Břetislav II began to rule .
  • The subsequent third book covers the period up to the last years of the author's life.

Despite some inconsistencies in chronological terms and content, the chronicle became the standard work of Bohemian medieval historiography . It was continued by Vincentius of Prague and the Mühlhausen abbot Gerlach as well as other chroniclers until 1283, who were probably close to the Prague cathedral chapter . It was used as a source by the later Bohemian chroniclers ( Peter von Zittau , Franz von Prag , Benesch von Weitmühl ) and also influenced the later Bohemian chronicles of the Middle Ages. It is preserved in 15 manuscripts .

Boundary description of the diocese of Prague 1086

For the year 1086, a document from Emperor Henry IV for the diocese of Prague is reproduced in the chronicle , which in the description of the boundaries of the diocese of Prague shows the boundaries of the diocese based on geographical conditions and the neighboring smaller tribes.
This document is of particular interest for Czech, but also for Polish national historical research, as individual tribes are only mentioned here and thus a look at the territorial conditions for the time of the foundation of the diocese in 973 seems possible.

expenditure

Latin

German

  • G. Grandaur, Des Dean Cosmas Chronik von Böhmen , ( historian of the German prehistory, 65 ) 1941, 3rd ed.
  • F. Huf, Cosmas von Prag, Die Chronik Böhmens , ( Historian of German Antiquity ), Essen 1987

English

  • L. Wolverton, Cosmas of Prague. The Chronicle of the Czechs , Washington 2009

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. Jaroslav Polc: Agnes von Böhmen, 1211-1282. King's daughter, abbess, saint. (Life pictures for the history of the Bohemian countries, vol. 6). Oldenbourg, Munich a. a. 1989, ISBN 3-486-55541-3 , p. 173.