Chronica Hungarorum

''Chronica Hungarorum'' (Latin for "Chronicle of the Hungarians") (), also known as the Thuróczy Chronicle, is the title of a 15th-century Latin-language Hungarian chronicle written by Johannes Thuróczy by compiling several earlier works in 1488. It served as the primary source for the history of medieval Hungary for centuries.

History

Johannes Thuróczy followed a career typical of contemporary legal scholars and, in the final years of his life, served as judge of the Court of the King's Personal Presence. Between the late 1480s and early 1490s, three Hungarian histories were written at the court of the Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus: the ''Chronica Hungarorum'' by Johannes Thuróczy, the ''Epitome rerum Hungarorum'' by Pietro Ranzano and the ''Rerum Hungaricarum decades'' by Antonio Bonfini. The Thuróczy Chronicle was rooted in the tradition of the previous medieval Hungarian chronicle writing and it was the final work of its genre.

The chronicle recounts the history of the Hungarians from their origins up to the capture of Wiener Neustadt by King Matthias in 1487. The historical knowledge of future generations of people was based on the Thuróczy Chronicle, because it was the most complete medieval Hungarian history at that time. The chronicle itself was the result of a historiographical construction based on the predecessor Hungarian chronicles spanning previous centuries, beginning with the Ancient Gesta. According to Thuróczy, he worked from contemporary works of the time of King Charles I (1301–1342) and King Louis I (1342–1382), which also based on older chronicles. The basic premise of the Hungarian medieval chronicle tradition that the Huns, i.e. the Hungarians coming out twice from Scythia, the guiding principle was the Hun-Hungarian continuity.

King Matthias of Hungary was happy to be described as "the second Attila". In the prologue of his chronicle, Thuróczy set the goal of glorifying Attila, which was undeservedly neglected, moreover, he introduced the famous "Scourge of God" characterization to the later Hungarian writers, because the earlier chronicles remained hidden for a long time. Thuróczy worked hard to endear Attila, the Hun king with an effort far surpassing his predecessor chroniclers. He made Attila a model for his victorious ruler, King Matthias of Hungary (1458–1490) who had Attila's abilities, with this he almost brought "the hammer of the world" to life.

The chronicle was published in print twice in 1488, in Brno and in Augsburg. The Augsburg edition was published in two versions, the one dedicated to the German audience omitted the description of the Austrian campaign of King Matthias. Two ornate copies made for King Matthias of Hungary have been preserved. Both were printed on parchment, and the editor's preface was adorned with gilded letters. The Augsburg edition of the ''Chronica Hungarorum'' from 1488 is the first known print made with gold paint. The engravings in both volumes were hand-painted at the Hungarian royal court. The chronicle contains hand-colored woodcuts depicting 41 Hungarian kings and leaders.

File:Thuróczy krónika - 1.jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - 2.jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - 3.jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - 4.jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - Mátyás király nagy birodalmi címere.jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - Attila király (4).jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - Szent László király (1).jpg
File:Thuróczy krónika - Szent László király (2).jpg

The images are listed alongside the chapter titles in the same order as they appear in one version of the Augsburg edition of the ''Chronica Hungarorum''.

Appendix at the end of the chronicle from Master Roger: A mournful song about the destruction of the Tatars in Hungary.

See also

* List of Hungarian chronicles
* ''Gesta Hungarorum''
* ''Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum''
* ''Chronicon Pictum''
* ''Chronica Hungarorum'' – Buda Chronicle
* '' Epitome rerum Hungarorum''
* Nádasdy Mausoleum

References

Further reading

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External links

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{{Hungarian literature

Hungarian chronicles
Medieval history of Hungary
Illuminated histories
15th-century illuminated manuscripts
15th-century history books
15th-century books in Latin
15th-century books
1488 books
1480s books