Diebold Schilling the Elder (c. 1445 – 1485) was the author of several of the

Swiss illustrated chronicles Several illustrated chronicles were created in the Old Swiss Confederacy in the 15th and 16th centuries. They were luxurious illuminated manuscripts produced for the urban elite of Bern and Lucerne, and their copious detailed illustrations allow a ...

, the '' Berner Schilling'' of 1483, the ''

Spiezer Schilling ''Spiezer Schilling'' or ''Spiezer Chronik'' is a chronicle by Diebold Schilling the Elder of Bern (1480s), created after the '' Berner Schilling'' by the same author. See also * Swiss illustrated chronicles Several illustrated chronicles we ...

'' (1480s), and the '' Zürcher Schilling'' of 1484. He worked in

Lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic German, High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label=Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking po ...

as a chancellor. In 1460, he moved to

Berne german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

for a post as a scribe to the city council. He was to some extent hostile towards the European powers who needed a lot of

Swiss mercenaries The Swiss mercenaries (german: Reisläufer) were a powerful infantry force constituted by professional soldiers originating from the cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy. They were notable for their service in foreign armies, especially among th ...

: this could only bring internal troubles after the

Burgundy wars The Burgundian Wars (1474–1477) were a conflict between the Burgundian State and the Old Swiss Confederacy and its allies. Open war broke out in 1474, and the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, was defeated three times on the battlefield in th ...

External links

Berne chronicle facsimileSpiez chronicle facsimile
Swiss chroniclers 1445 births 1485 deaths 15th-century Swiss historians People from Lucerne {{Switzerland-writer-stub