The ''Annals of Aachen'' ( la, Annales Aquenses) is an anonymous late 12th-century compilation of Latin

annals Annals ( la, annāles, from , "year") are a concise historical record in which events are arranged chronologically, year by year, although the term is also used loosely for any historical record. Scope The nature of the distinction between ann ...

from St Mary's Church in

Aachen Aachen ( ; ; Aachen dialect: ''Oche'' ; French and traditional English: Aix-la-Chapelle; or ''Aquisgranum''; nl, Aken ; Polish: Akwizgran) is, with around 249,000 inhabitants, the 13th-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 28th- ...

. The annals were originally compiled in 1169 and subsequently extended down to 1196. The first part is little more than a list of Roman emperors from AD 1 until 684. Entries for the years 688–809 were borrowed from some

Carolingian The Carolingian dynasty (; known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolingus, Carolings, Karolinger or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family named after Charlemagne, grandson of mayor Charles Martel and a descendant of the Arnulfing and Pippin ...

imperial annals and are closely related to the '' Annals of Saint-Amand''. There follows a list of Carolingian and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

rulers down to 1109. The reports on the reign of

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...

(1105–1125) are generally positive. The coverage of the

Staufer The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, , ), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of unclear origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254. The dynasty ...

rulers is also positive. The ''Annals of Aachen'' contain the earliest example in Germany of the expression "to make a knight". It occurs in the account of the knighting of

Frederick I Frederick I may refer to: * Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht. * Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978) * Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105) * Frederick I, Count of Zoller ...

's sons, Henry VI and Frederick VI in 1184: ''facti sunt milites'', they were made knights. This is one of the earliest pieces of evidence for a ceremony of

knighting The accolade (also known as dubbing or adoubement) ( la, benedictio militis) was the central act in the rite of passage ceremonies conferring knighthood in the Middle Ages. From about 1852, the term ''accolade'' was used much more generally to ...

in Germany..

Editions

Georg Waitz Georg Waitz (9 October 1813 – 24 May 1886) was a German medieval historian and politician. Waitz is often spoken of as the leading disciple of Leopold von Ranke, though perhaps he had more affinity with Georg Heinrich Pertz or Friedrich Christo ...

(ed.)
"Annales Aquenses"
in MGH ''Scriptores'', 24 (1879), pp. 33–39.

Notes

{{reflist 1169 books 12th-century history books 12th-century Latin books Medieval Latin histories Hohenstaufen Works published anonymously History of Aachen