Chronicon Maius

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The Chronicon Maius is a chronicle of the Byzantine dynasty of palaeologists of partly unclear authenticity. It was ascribed to Georgios Sphrantzes (1401–1477) until the middle of the 20th century . In fact, it was written around 1577 by Makarios Melissourgos , Metropolitan of Monemvasia . Hence the name Pseudo-Sphrantzes for the author. The work is particularly well-known for its detailed and colorful depiction of the siege, fall and sack of Constantinople in 1453.

Melissourgos obviously used Sphrantzes' succinctly worded Chronicon Minus , which only covers his lifetime, as a template for his text . In the meantime it is also clear that Melissourgos was based on other older manuscripts and contributed his own topographical knowledge. The detailed description of the siege of Constantinople comes from a letter from Bishop Leonhard of Chios , who was himself among the besieged. Other sources include works of Großlogotheten George Akropolites and the historian Laonikos Chalkokondyles , possibly by Manuel Malaxos wrote and Martin Crusius published history of patriarchy . Apparently the author was very interested in a correct reproduction of these exploitations, which was not to be expected in view of his other forgeries.

At least the passages in which the author, who last called himself Melissenos, wanted to pretend his descent from the Melissenoi family are actually fictitious. It is unclear to what extent there could be inventions or falsifications in other passages that are not yet assigned to older sources.

literature

  • Endre von Ivánka (arr.): The last days of Constantinople: the part of the "Chronicon Maius" (= Byzantine historian 1) attributed to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 . Verlag Styria, Graz, Cologne 1954 (annotated German partial edition of Chronicon Maius).
  • Marios Philippides: The Fall of Constantinople: Bishop Leonard and the Greek Accounts. In: Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies. 22, 1981, pp. 287-300.
  • Marios Philippides: Manuel Malaxos and Book III of the Chronicon Maius by Pseudo-Sphrantzes. In: Byzantine Studies Conference: Abstracts of Papers. 9, Durham, NC 1983, pp. 66-67 ( byzconf.org ).