„And There Was a Praiseworthy Soldier, called Chanadin […]”.  Byzantine Literary Strategies in 11th Century Transylvania Cover Image

„Și era un oștean vrednic de cinste, pe nume Chanadin […]”. Strategii literare bizantine în Transilvania secolului al XI-lea
„And There Was a Praiseworthy Soldier, called Chanadin […]”. Byzantine Literary Strategies in 11th Century Transylvania

Author(s): Alexandru Enescu
Subject(s): Local History / Microhistory, Middle Ages
Published by: Editura Academiei Române
Keywords: Chanadinus; Ahtum; encomiastic biography; contemporary Byzantine sources;

Summary/Abstract: This study is focused on the tenth chapter of the Legenda Maior- Vita Sancti Gerardi Moresanae ecclesiae episcopi, in which are found events relating to the conquest of the Ahtum of Morisena (today Cenad) Voivodship by a certain Chanadinus in the first half of the 11th century, amidst the military penetration of the Kingdom of Hungary towards Transylvania. The chapter in question has been used in numerous historical researches over time, but never with reference to the fact that it may have sources that point to the Byzantine Empire. Although the author remains unknown- for this reason I have named him The Author X- he uses a variety of contemporary Byzantine sources: chronicles, aristocratic biographies, tactical and military strategy manuals, dream interpretation manuals, biblical excerpts, etc. This chapter is the oldest of the entire historical records and was written by the anonymous author in the style favoured by contemporary Byzantine writers, that of the encomiastic biographies. Thus, the encomiastic biography dedicated to this local leader, Chanadinus, in «maniera byzantina», is the oldest literary testimony of this kind on the territory of today’s Romania.

  • Issue Year: LVIII/2019
  • Issue No: LVIII/Sup
  • Page Range: 67-92
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: Romanian