We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
In his modern novella, King of the Benighted (Shāh-e siyāh-pushān), an Iranian writer, Hushang Golshiri grafts a twelfth-century Nezāmi’s epic, Seven Beauties (Haft Peykar), into an Iranian contemporary context, which strongly implies that the fate of Iranian revolution of 1979 has been foretold by a medieval tale.
More...
The Primary Chronicle (The Tale of Bygone Years) is believed to have incorporated and preserved the very archaic West Slavic segments from the unknown historical source belonging to the Great Moravian or Pannonian literary tradition of the late 9th and early 10th centuries. These parts bear the precious testimony about the archetypal motherland of the Slavs on the Danube River, from where they gradually spread out over the extensive parts of Europe, preserving, however, solidly the consciousness of their initial unity. This motherland on the Danube, which they called Slovyenskaya zeml’ya [Slavic land/country], was later then occupied by the Hungarian tribes and consequently renamed into Hungary. Acknowledging this West Slavic tradition as their own, the East Slavs became the apparent successors of the Great Moravian and Cyrillo-Methodian ideological concept of the Slavic world. The analogical case of an adoption of the Great Moravian tradition into the particular, this time, the South Slavic tradition can be detected in the Chronicle of Pop Dukljanin. Here we have witnessed how the interjection of the (Great Moravian) Svatopulk’s tradition with the tradition of the Slavonic-Croatian statehood laid the basis for the South Slavic tradition of Sclavinia as the powerful and archaic Balkan country of the Slavs. A very similar message is brought forward by the Hungarian-Polish Chronicle, where Sclavonia as Great Moravia is explicitly considered to be a predecessor of the Kingdom of Hungary. The last discussed concept of Sclavinia, as the vast country of many Slavic tribes, arises when dealing with the Chronicle of Gallus Anonymus. Within this widest portrayal and territorial depiction of Sclavinia we have witnessed the gradual evolution of an idea of the ethnic unity of the Slavs, which was gradually extended into the geo-political dimensions (e. g. references to St. Adalberts’s plan of Sclavinia as the political union of the West and possibly the South Slavs; also to Otto’s III plan of Renovation Imperii Romanorum). Again here, we come to a touch with the Great Moravian legacy and its genius loci, which was influencing the ideological movements in this region for many centuries. Summarizing the outcomes from the analysed historical sources, we presume to identify the three basic Slavic traditions, which trace their roots back to Great Moravia of Svatopluk and its ideological and territorial legacy: 1) Old-Russian tradition; 2) South Slavic tradition; and 3) Latin West Slavic tradition. All these traditions, as it was shown, are alleged to have fixed the historical memory of the Slavs themselves about their first statehood on the Danube — the river, which as a result acquired a «totemic», sacral character both in oral and written traditions of almost all Slavic peoples. Great Moravia, which served as the model of the powerful and in all aspects important Slavic state, stamped the evolution and history of the majority of its Slavic descendants. These, in order to receive a hallmark of their own legitimacy, preserved, modified and spread further the memory on the common Slavic country (motherland), called Sclavinia.
More...
The article considers the current situation in the field of studying the history of Old Rus’ and the Eastern Slavic Middle Ages in general. A thesis states that currently there is a tendency to disintegration of the formerly single field of research, and that medievalists from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine are increasingly locked in their national historiographies. Such a situation is figuratively compared with the «great schism» of the Western and Eastern churches in 1054. The article invites to a discussion on this issue.
More...
The dominant nomadic tribe in the Nort Caucaus and the Nort Blacksea was the İskit bringing a new culture since 8th century B.C. Although there are lots of discussion about this tribe’s root, the most common is that they are from Middle Asia. The most important resource about the early age “the history” by Herodot is the base of this opinion.However, the first settler was Kimmers the İskits held sway from the North Caspian Sea to Volga, Don, Dinyeper, Bug Dinyester rivers and the north Blacksea and the East Europe. Moreover, they organized lots of expeditions to the Balkans and Anatolıa. They put the products got during the expeditions in the kurgans. The belief living in the other world and ancestor cult caused the kurgan yo come out. They cared the kurgans and they built kurgans in the different size and prosperity. The first excavations about the kurgans made by Russian scientists and they classified according to the building techniques . Also, the archeological offering provides us important information about steppe life style. According to the information we learn thanks to the archeological offering İskit’s animal style art spread from Asia to the East Europe. And these works were found in the kurgans in Caucaus, North Blacksea East Europe.
More...
Anthroponyms represent an important mirror for the historical situation of the Arad and Bihor counties during the late 12th century and also at the beginning of the following one. Typical of the situation previous to the anthroponymical uniformisation promoted by the Christian Church especially starting with the second half of the 13th century, the names of the period had in view „speak” about the ethnic groups who cohabited in this part of Europe and whose cultural traits gave rise to a unique medieval culture. The anthroponyms vary widely, from Latin, Hungarian and German to Greek, Jewish, Romanian or Cuman. All of these old names, not just the Christian ones, are also characterised by another important aspect: they have a meaning in their original language. Where I could, I established this sense, but in many causes I have failed. Hopefully, future research will solve these important issues.
More...
This essay deals with life and activities of Khubrat Khan, who established the Magna Bulgaria in the 7th century in the north of the Black Sea and the Caucasus. Khubrat, who unified Ogurs/Bulgars after the death of Organa, his uncle, separated from the Kök Turks and founded his independent state. He also started a new Bulgar ethnogenesis by unifying all Ogurs, thus by having them called Bulgar altogether.
More...
The beginnings of Ragusa which will develop into the major trade center of the southern Adriatic are covered with the darkness.1 The earliest historical record, written by Cosmographer of Ravenna, most probably from the very end of the 7th century (ca. 700), mentions Ragusium id est Epidaurum. 2 This source is very important, because it makes earliest connection between the ancient Roman city of Epidaurus and Ragusa, as it is stated not only various sources of Ragusa’s origins, but also preserved in the legends developed in or around Ragusa. That strong feeling about close relations with the ancient Epidaurus is remembered even by inhabitants of Ragusa at the official documents from the 14th century: Epidaurus at the seashore was the ancient city of Ragusa. 3 The similar view about the origin of Ragusa is also preserved by the Ragusan authors: Ragusan Anonymous, Ludovico Tuberon, Mauro Orbin, Jacob Luccari, Nicolo Ragnina, etc.
More...
The Gradina-Lisina site is located on the west side of the Kopaonik mountain, in the municipality of Raška, from where there is a spectacular view toward the west, and Kozija glava, Tiodže and part of the Radošića village could be controlled. The view also extends to the important communication line toward what is today Kosovo, as well as the site Gradina in Donja Rudnica, around 4.5 km away. The fortress is in the shape of an irregular triangle, with the approximate orientation NE-SW. It is narrowest around the entrance, and widest on the west side, where the terrain is inaccessible due to a steep ravine. There were no remnants of towers, but the impression is that there might have been one near the entrance. Trench-like smaller depression before the entrance points to the existence of a dry trench by the entrance. Bulwarks, preserved only in several rows of stones, were founded on live rock and built of crushed stone in irregular layers. Whitish limestone mortar was used as sorder. Archaeological research was done with just three stratigraphic probes. Early Byzantine pottery from the 6th and early 7th centuries AD is accompanied with rare metal finds: a ring, half of the horseshoe for cattle, and several pieces of slag. The only coin found is a piece coined in Viminacium during the 3rd century AD. The metal slag points that mining was an important part of the economic activity of the inhabitants of this fortification. Besides the preserved toponymy, this is also confirmed by the Turkish defters related to the Brvenik nahija, dated 1519, 1533, and 1548. This Early Byzantine fort confirms general characteristics of contemporary fortifications. It has a free basis, adjusted to the terrain configuration, and with access from one side only. It is simply built, with the material available at the site, and with simple constructing solutions, devoid of any unnecessary aesthetic details. When Kopaonik becomes an important mining region, it probably influenced the development of a network of local roads, in order to exploit and transport the ore. A number of Early Byzantine forts points to the importance of the communication link through the valley of the Ibar river. From this link, at the extension of the leg from Novi Pazar, there was a road through what is today a village of Šipačino, to Suvo Rudište, then crossing the ridge of Kopaonik, and descending to the village of Đerekare, and then going through Kuršumlija and Prokuplje to Niš, where it hit the “Constantinople Road.” The fact that today’s direction originates from the Early Byzantine period , if not earlier, is confirmed by the Gradina in Lisina, as well as the fortification in Đerekare, where the mentioned communication link went.
More...
The long-standing view that Uspenski’s Taktikon was written in 842/843 or 845/856 has been subjected to a detailed analysis in this paper. As the dating of Uspenski’s Taktikon is critical for dating the theme of Dalmatia, these two issues have been addressed in the same paper. The key arguments pointing to an earlier date of Uspenski’s Taktikon are the following: 1. the difference between the theme of Klimata and the theme of Herson; 2. Absence of the theme of Strymon in Uspenski’s Taktikon; 3. the very title of Uspenski’s Taktikon where Theodora is mentioned with an epithet of saint. 1. The postulate that the theme of Klimata and the theme of Herson is the same thing can no longer be upheld. Two seals of unknown officials who worked in Klimata, or in, “Five Klimatas” dated to the 9th century, indicate that before establishing the Theme of Herson there had existed the administrative unit of Klimata which later became the theme of Herson. The oldest preserved seals of the strategos of Herson date back to the 70s of the 9th century. The testimony of Porphyrogenitus in DAI on the establishment of the theme of Herson refers to the town only, while in De them. he says that previously Herson was not a theme, but was governed from the Bosphorus together with the regions. It should also be noted that the theme of Dalmatia is always before the theme of Herson in all preserved taktikons, which in certain sense determines the chronological order of their establishment - Dalmatia is older than Herson. According to the report of Theophanes dated 808/809, there had been the theme of Strymon that disappeared under the onslaught of Krum’s Bulgarians by 812 at the latest. The seal of Leo, imperial spatharos and strategos of Strymon, that has definitely been dated to the time before mid-9th century leads to the conclusion that Strymon should have been mentioned in Uspenski’s Taktikon, had it been established during the time of Michael III and Theodora. Since a 30-year peace was agreed with the Bulgarians in 814, it is quite certain that the region of Strymon could be reestablished as theme in one of the following years. In secular sources, Theodora has never been mentioned with the epithet of saint. Thus, in the Synaxar of the Church of Constantinople, she is only orthodox, but not saint. The first appearance of the epithet saint with her name was in the title of her hagiography pieced together immediately after her death. This leads us to conclude that the title of Uspenski’s Taktikon was most likely added after her death. It is assumed that the transcriber from the 12th/13th century found in the title only the name of Michael, the orthodox tsar, whom he thought to be Michael III, since both Michael I and Michael III were orthodox tsars, and Michael III was far more famous than his predecessor of the same name. Thus, the transcriber changed Michael I into Michael III and added the name of his saint mother Theodora. Had the transcriber intended to make the title more formal, since the Byzantine tsar had become saint by coronation, he would also have had to call Tsar Michael saint, and not only his mother. Latin sources, above all Einhard and John Deacon, describing the situation in Dalmatia from 806 to 810, lead us to think that Dalmatia was archontia, since there was dux in Zadar (Jadera). Einhard mentions the prefect of the province in Zadar in 821, which speaks of a different administrative organisation. An analogy can be found in the prefect of Cephalonia who is known to have been a strategos as of late 8th century, and who is mentioned as a prefect in the same source. The chronology of events would be the following – in accordance with the Peace of Aachen, the arhontia of Dalmatia was restored in 812, and in 817, after the demarcation with the Slavs, Byzantium promoted Dalmatia into a theme. According to the report of the Saxon Gottschalk, 846-848, it is clear that Dalmatia was a theme. The seal of the strategos of Dalmatia, Bryennios, that was dated to the 40s of the 9th century by Schlubmerger, and which was disputed by Ferluga, was later on supported by Oikonomides. In addition to the said crucial arguments, there is a series of details pointing to the necessity to review the existing dating of Uspenski’s Taktikon. It may be concluded that after the Peace of Aachen, i.e. after June 812, the Byzantines drew up a Taktikon which reflected the new state of affairs. However, all these changes did not happen during the rule of Michael I, but Nicephor I, whose untimely death prevented him from realising his plan of broad administrative changes throughout the empire. The changes included: 1) the abolishment of the theme of Strymon; 2) the establishment of the theme of Dyrrachion, 3) the establishment of the theme of Chaldia (around 811); 4) the reestablishment of the archontia of Dalmatia, 5) the creation of the theme of Creta (before 811). 6) the establishment of the theme of Klimata.
More...
Squire Toma Pavla Toma was a member of the renowned Toma family from Kotor that was a branch of the Drago family. The Drago family, in turn, branched from the Basilli family that can be traced back to late 12th century. This paper grants Toma a justified biography portraying his life and work, that is his political and business activity. Like his father, he continued to perform all important missions for the Serbian king and state. His political and business activities can be traced as of 1312, when there is first mention of him in the Archives of Dubrovnik, until his death in 1330. His business activities were related to Dubrovnik, Kotor and Serbia. Toma set up joint-stock trading companies with people in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice and Serbia. He was a warrantor, creditor, representative and debtor. Little is known about his life in Kotor, as the sources dating from before 1326 have not been preserved. The Archives of Kotor trace Toma’s life and work only from 1326 to 1330, the last four years of his life. However, Toma’s last will speaks much more about his life and work in Kotor, Serbia and Dubrovnik. Even when he was only a visitor to Kotor, living in Dubrovnik and Serbia, Toma maintained connections with business people from his hometown. How significant was Toma Pavla Toma both for the Serbian Court and the town of Kotor was recorded in an article of the Statute of Kotor (426). His last will also gives a picture of almost the entire social and economic situation in Kotor of the first decades of the 14th century. In the third decade of the 14th century, Toma’s business and social activities in Serbia became more prominent. He lived in Serbia at that time, there is record of his presence in the town of Prizren where he owned a house and traded. He was the King's envoy in Dubrovnik and a person of trust who collected St. Dimitar's tax in this town. He also performed other tasks for the Serbian king and state, such as procuring of arms and horses, war being imminent in Serbia. Toma knew how to make good business deals for the ruler. In July 1329, he signed a contract on the lease of all Serbian customs offices on behalf of the Serbian king with three respected and rich merchants from the ranks of Dubrovnik aristocracy. Being close to the Court, he had business relations with well-known persons and merchants from Serbia. He worked with dukes – Duke Mladen, the progenitor of the Brankovic tree and Duke Vukoslav. How devoted was Toma Pavla Toma to the Serbian king and Serbia is shown by the fact that he spent his last days in Serbia, where on his death-bed in the ruler’s castle of Štimlje in Kosovo, he made his last will. Toma dealt with the Venetian merchants who lived in Kotor, Dubrovnik and Serbia in the 20s of the 14th century - Marco Ruggini, Pierangelo Polani, Bartolomeo Bolani, Francesco il Farmacista and others. Toma Pavla Toma was a merchant of great stature and prominence. He traded with the West and East, that is Venice, Apulia and Thessaloniki. He traded in metals (silver and lead), fabric, salt, wheat, wax, arms, horses etc. He acquired enormous capital, which he invested both in movable and real property in Kotor, Serbia and Dubrovnik. Toma’s long, successful and versatile business activities lasted until early 1330 when he died, probably in Serbia.
More...
The purpose of this article is to examine the career of a religious living at the turn of the seventeenth and eighteenth century, Father John Damascene Lubieniecki, as well as to discuss the issues related to the foundation of the theology faculty at the Sopra Minerva priory in Rome, where Lubieniecki was one of the lecturers. According to the will of Cardinal Jerome Casanate, two chairs of theology and a college of six theologians were established at the Dominican priory. According to the cardinal’s plan, this centre was intended to instruct both secular and consecrated persons in the thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Casanate’s theologians were supposed to represent the major nations of the world. The first professor from the Germanic nations (in which medieval universities included Hungary and Poland) was John Damascene Lubieniecki. It is worth noting that Cardinal Casanate defined clearly the academic qualifications that a lecturer must have. On the list of institutions that the lecturers of the various nations were required to have studied in were the University of Salamanca, the University of Paris, and, for members of the Germanic nations, the Dominican general studiumat the Krakow or Vienna priories or the University of Cologne. The figure of John Damascene Lubieniecki deserves attention not only because of his work as a lecturer at this centre sponsored by Casanate. He also held a number of important functions in the Polish Province of the Dominicans. He had a thorough education, studied in Krakow, Spain and France, and taught in the formal studium in Warsaw and the general studium in Krakow. He was elected several times as prior of various convents of the Polish Province (Sieradz, Brześć Kujawski, Warsaw) and was actively involved in the organization of a general studium at the priory in Warsaw. The crowning achievement of his religious career was his election as provincial. To the long list of important functions he carried out in the Order should be added his participation in a pontifical commission dealing with the beatification of Blessed Czeslaw (Ceslaus). The last task entrusted to him was the administration of the diocese of Bacãu, Moldova, whose territory included Moldavia and Wallachia as well as Bessarabia.
More...