‘PARALLEL LIVES’ – ST. MARTIN AND ST. GERARD IN THE HUNGARIAN ANGEVIN LEGENDARY

Author(s): Béla Zsolt Szakács / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2000

We have more than a thousand manuscripts of the great hagiographical collection, the Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine from the 13th century, but there is only one codex which not only illustrated the text but translated it into a language of images. It is related to the Hungarian Anjous, that is why the codex is titled ‘Hungarian Angevin Legendary’. The pages of the codex are spread over different collections of the world. Nowadays 58 legends are known on 142 pages, altogether 549 images. Some more important legends, as that of the apostles or the Anjous’ favorite saint, King Ladislas, occupy 20–24 images. The paper tries to demonstrate two examples. St. Martin and St. Gerard, of how these cycles were organised. Two pictures of the supposed eight are emphasising the role of Martin as a bishop. Five images show the miracles of the saint and only one is consecrated to the charity of St. Martin, to the event which is his most popular story. Martin is the symbolic saint who gives half his goods to the poor. This scene is the most frequently represented in medieval art. In the Hungarian Angevin Legendary his miraculous activity is much more emphasized which is correlated with the written legend. The legend of St. Gerard is preserved completely in the Legendary.

“AND ЕVERYTHING HERE WAS FILLED WITH MISERY AND TEARS”: A FEW NOTES ON THE BLACK DEATH DEMOGRAPHIC IMPACT ON BYZANTIUM , 1347–1453

Author(s): Theodor Dimitrov / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

This article aims at reviewing the effect of the so-called Black Death on the demographic structure of Byzantium and Byzantine world in the period between 1347 and 1453. Due to the extremely scarce information in the historical sources, the author does not engage in calculating human losses during the local plague epidemics. The text traces the main demographic tendencies in the course of the pandemic. First of all, the problem of morbidity and mortality rates in cities and the much less urbanized countryside has been analyzed. Secondly, by combining data from the historical sources available and the results of modern epidemiological studies, this work attempts to identify the population groups that were most frequent victims of the plague. In conclusion, the issue whether and to what extent the demographic damage in Byzantium and the Byzantine world are commensurate with those in Western Europe has been discussed.

“Diplomacy of Medieval Rus’ (10th – 16th Centuries)”, 10th International Scientific Conference in the “Colloquia Russica” Series

Author(s): Artem Papakin / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

„A teraz ostatek srebra i kredens pozłocisty wezmą”, czyli o finansowaniu pogrzebu króla Zygmunta Augusta

Author(s): Agnieszka Januszek-Sieradzka / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

King Sigismund II August bequeathed his entire landholdings as well as his goods and chattels to his three sisters. According to the will, Anna Jagiellonka was also granted the lifelong right to use the so-called Tykocin treasure, in which, since the 60s of the 16th century, the last of the Jagiellonians deposited his chattels. Polish senators and lords tried to prevent the heiresses and especially Anna Jagiellonka from taking possession of the Tykocin chattels. A special occasion which was used as a pretext for depleting the treasure was the funeral of the last Jagiellonian. Polish lords tried to cash in the inheritance in order to pay the costs of the bringing the body of the king to Cracow and organising the funeral itself. The Tykocin deposit was also lent and brought to Cracow in connection with the funeral and the coronation of the dead king’s successor. The sources allow to see the process of diminishing the Tykocin deposit, which was the obvious violation of the last Jagiellonian’s will, leaving Anna Jagiellonka, who was the heiress and custodian of the dynastic memory, completely helpless.

„Advocatia – defensio – cura fundationis”. Wójtostwo kościelne w Polsce XII-XIII w.

Author(s): Marcin Rafał Pauk / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The volume contains 32 studies on the history of the full and late Middle Ages, dedicated to the outstanding Warsaw medievalist Prof. Sławomir Gawlas on the occasion of his jubilee. The works of Polish and foreign historians collected here, mostly in the chronological range from the 12th to the beginning of the 16th century, reflect the broad spectrum of the Jubilarian's research interests. Among them, particular attention should be paid to the issues of the social system and its medieval transformations, legal systems, economy and history of cities, as well as various forms of social identity and political culture of the middle ages.

„Ciało umarłe większego wymaga opatrzenia” – sekcja zwłok polskich królów i królowych od XVI do XVIII wieku w kontekście przygotowań do ceremonii pogrzebowej

Author(s): Jarosław Pietrzak / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The article focuses on post-mortem examinations of Polish kings and queens between 16th and 18th centuries. The attitude of Roman Catholic Church and university circles towards autopsy is discussed. The definition and terminology of the post-mortem examination is provided, different for the past and modern times. The subsequent part of the article addresses the objections the rulers had concerning their autopsies and expressed in their wills, the time, place and the people conducting the post-mortem examinations and the exceptions to the usual conduct. The reasons for autopsies are analysed: the need to learn the cause of death and the verification of the hypothesis about poisoning, the necessity to protect the corpse against decaying until the funeral and a very popular practice of burying different parts of the body, such as heart, liver, tongue and eyes, which started at the end of the 17th century. Finally, corpse embalming and the substances used in the process are described. In conclusion the ceremonious meaning of conducting autopsy and paying respect to the royal majesty are indicated, as well as the phenomenon of transferring the post-mortem examinations from the royal circles to aristocracy and nobility in the course of the 17th and 18th centuries.

„Cronica conflictus” – zaklęte źródło. Z prolegomenów nowej edycji

Author(s): Marek A. Janicki / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The volume contains 32 studies on the history of the full and late Middle Ages, dedicated to the outstanding Warsaw medievalist Prof. Sławomir Gawlas on the occasion of his jubilee. The works of Polish and foreign historians collected here, mostly in the chronological range from the 12th to the beginning of the 16th century, reflect the broad spectrum of the Jubilarian's research interests. Among them, particular attention should be paid to the issues of the social system and its medieval transformations, legal systems, economy and history of cities, as well as various forms of social identity and political culture of the middle ages.

„Decreta iuris supremi Magdeburgensis castri Cracoviensis” drogowskazem w rozważaniach nad staropolską „vicinią”?

Author(s): Jacek Matuszewski / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The volume contains 32 studies on the history of the full and late Middle Ages, dedicated to the outstanding Warsaw medievalist Prof. Sławomir Gawlas on the occasion of his jubilee. The works of Polish and foreign historians collected here, mostly in the chronological range from the 12th to the beginning of the 16th century, reflect the broad spectrum of the Jubilarian's research interests. Among them, particular attention should be paid to the issues of the social system and its medieval transformations, legal systems, economy and history of cities, as well as various forms of social identity and political culture of the middle ages.

„Desiderium et reverentia” Godne i niegodne przyjmowanie komunii świętej w świetle średniowiecznych kazań de Corpore Christi z późnośredniowiecznych rękopisów bibliotek polskiej prowincji zakonu Braci Kaznodziejów

Author(s): Anna Zajchowska / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

An attempt to reconstruct the sources and describe the spirituality profile of selected Polish religious communities in the European context. It consists of dissertations presenting the basic determinants of the value of Polish pre-Tridentine culture in terms of spirituality and piety. In subsequent articles, the authors describe selected values (religious, political, ethical, aesthetic), referring to new, unique sources, not yet analyzed at all or considered from a research perspective other than that adopted by the authors. Eucharistia, Exegesis, Pietas, Devotio, Penitentia, Indulgentia, Paideia, Paupertas, Memoria - these are selected concepts on the basis of which the authors try to show the central idea of the entire project on the culture of the First Republic in dialogue with Europe and hermeneutics of values: scope, directions and methods the mutual flow of reflection in Polish and European culture - here in relation to the pre-Tridentine era and in the face of the emerging challenges of humanism during the Renaissance. The 12-volume series of monographs Kultura First Rzeczpospolitej in dialogue with Europe. The Hermeneutics of Values ”presents the cultural heritage of the 15th and 18th centuries as an integral but original part of European culture. The research goal is to identify the ways and forms of the mutual transmission of aesthetic, political and religious values and to present in a broad, multilateral comparative context the axiological structure of the Polish culture of old times. Cultural texts are examined from an internal perspective as records of acts aimed at understanding values, and from an external perspective as statements that join European literary-aesthetic, political and religious discussions. In an intense dialogue, the culture of the Republic of Poland shows not only a receptivity to new ideas, but also creativity and dynamism in operating in Europe.

„Historia Wratislaviensis” Piotra Eschenloera czy Hermanna Markgrafa?

Author(s): Halina Manikowska / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The volume contains 32 studies on the history of the full and late Middle Ages, dedicated to the outstanding Warsaw medievalist Prof. Sławomir Gawlas on the occasion of his jubilee. The works of Polish and foreign historians collected here, mostly in the chronological range from the 12th to the beginning of the 16th century, reflect the broad spectrum of the Jubilarian's research interests. Among them, particular attention should be paid to the issues of the social system and its medieval transformations, legal systems, economy and history of cities, as well as various forms of social identity and political culture of the middle ages.

„Kantor Chrystusa eucharystycznego” – św. Tomasz z Akwinu w przepowiadaniu do dzieci z okazji uroczystości Pierwszej Komunii Świętej

Author(s): Hubert Łysy / Language(s): Polish Issue: 58/2021

John Paul II in the encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia mentions St. Thomas Aquinas as an excellent theologian and at the same time zealous cantor of Christ in the Eucharist. This term “cantor” poetically and figuratively reflects the entire Eucharistic devotion of Thomas Aquinas. His Eucharistic devotion consists of: the testimony of the Eucharistic life contained in the Summa Theologiae; Treatise on the Eucharist, the words of Eucharistic songs and prayers related to the Eucharist. For many years the parish of Saint Joseph the Worker in Opole-Wrzoski has carried out a project in which the traditional First Holy Communion celebration is proposed in a new form. The theme of the celebration is primarily determined by the history of the Eucharist. Saint Thomas Aquinas occupies an important place in this history. In the Church in Poland, the following slogan was proposed for the pastoral year 2019/2020: The Great Mystery of Faith. Saint Thomas fits very well in getting to know this mystery as the cantor of Eucharistic Christ. This dissertation first presents the abovementioned components of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Eucharistic piety and thus constitutes the theoretical part of the discussion. It is followed by the practical part in which the theoretical considerations are “transferred” to the First Communion celebration, which is one great proclamation of Jesus Christ. The art of effective First Communion proclamation is based on a pictorial, simple, and understandable message of what has been conveyed in theological and poetic language. The richness of the theological thought of Saint Thomas describing the Eucharist, could become an inspiration for many First Communion celebrations. In this article, on the example of one celebration, the attempt has been made to convey all this richness, with an emphasis on the words of a song by Saint Thomas “Sight, touch, taste are all deceived in their judgment of you, but hearing suffices firmly to believe”.

„Szent László, Erdély védőszentje”

I. (Szent) László tisztelete Erdélyben, 1556–1630

Author(s): Terézia Kerny / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: III-V/2010

A partir de la deuxième moitié du 16e siècle, grâce à leur isolation et à l’éloignement graduel de la patrie mère, les habitants catholiques de la Transylvanie (et les Hongrois de la Moldavie) ont sauvegardé, presque sans faille, la pratique liturgique et les thématiques artistiques médiévales qui avaient déjà disparu de la Hongrie royale sans avoir laissé de traces. Les diverses causes de cette élimination étaient – parmi d’autres – les suivantes: les réformes de l’Eglise catholique, l’envahissement du pays par des idées protestantes, l’invasion par les troupes turques et le changement dans les exigences artistiques. Grâce à ce procès historique, l’honneur de Saint Ladislas a gardé de nombreux points archaïques et s’est sauvegardé en Transylvanie. Ce sont peut-être les racines du phénomène de métamorphose de Saint Ladislas à la fin duquel il s’est sublimé en symbole national et s’est érigé en modèle moral. Il est devenu le patron de la Transylvanie. Quelles sont les bases culturelles qui soutiennent cette locution stable bien enracinée et devenue immuable depuis ce temps ? Peut-on parler en Transylvanie d’un culte de Saint Ladislas qui s’est formé en une manière autonome et très caractéristique depuis la deuxième moitié du 16e siècle et qui a exercé de l’influence même plusieurs siècles plus tard ? Ou bien était-il tout simplement un topos idéalisé renforçant le respect de soi, l’émotion nationale que l’on peut en quelque manière relier à des causes psychologiques créées plus tard et provenant de la situation provinciale de la région, la principauté transylvanienne vivant son indépendance illusoire ? Etait-il un élément soutenant l’image d’un « âge d’or » et d’un « jardin des fées » ? L’étude ci-dessous cherche à répondre à ces questions en mettant l’accent sur les oeuvres d’art et en analysant les sources historiques, ecclésiastiques et littéraires concernant l’époque. La comparaison des données s’est terminée par une conclusion négative. Ni dans la cour de la principauté, ni dans cette partie du pays, la démonstration d’une apothéose spécifique régionale n’était pas relevante. Le culte n’a obtenu son image caractéristique s’appuyant sur des fonds du 19e siècles qu’au cours du 20e siècle. Il a été sûrement soutenu par des événements historiques mythifiés, par des traditions, mais aussi par des faits historiques sans aucun doute justifiables – comme la réorganisation de l’épiscopat de Transylvanie, la campagne militaire de 1068 menée contre les ‘Besenyı’ et l’installation des ‘Székely’ (Sicules) sur le territoire. C’est la raison pour laquelle Saint Ladislas est devenu le protecteur et le sauveur de la Transylvanie. Le culte transylvanien de Saint Ladislas n’a obtenu sa forme cristallisée qu’après le trauma de ‘Trianon’ lié à des combats de politique minoritaire et nationale et à la question réelle du destin causé par l’émigration des ‘Székely’.

„Unirea ecleziastică” a armenilor din Prepozitura Sibiului (Tălmaciu) în secolul al XIV-lea sau despre un mister ecclesial transilvan

Author(s): Şerban Turcuş / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 55/2016

The study refers to the meteoric presence in medieval documents from Transylvania (1355) of an Armenian bishop named Martin of Tălmaciu, vicar of the archbishop of Esztergom. We think it is an interesting case for the implementation of the subordination's policy of the Armenian Rite by the figure of a vicar bishop or a diocesan vicar to the authority of the archbishop that oversees the ecclesiastical discipline in the territory of the provostship of Sibiu. In this business is involved also the cistercian abbey of Cârţa, that may have been implicated in the admission of the Armenians of Tălmaciu under the obedience of the Roman Church.

„Zwischen den Zeilen des Rechts“. Zu verschiedenen Funktionen der Siete Partidas Alfons X. von Kastilien

Author(s): Heidi R. Krauss / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2017

The Siete Partidas, the famous law code, of Alfons X. of Castile, written in the 13th century offers us a great variety of topics which have to be investigated more detailed. The central question is, which functions has the text besides being a law code? The encyclopedic character of this work, provides an insight into daily life of medieval Castile and mirrors the historical frame in which it was written. One of the central ideas of the Siete Partidas was to unify the existing „laws“ in the Kingdom of Castile. But, unification also means a centralization of the power which was embodied by the king. The fact, that this was not completely accepted by other powerful people of that time made it necessary for Alfons X. to legitimate his own power. This article highlights different functions of the Siete Partidas of King Alfons X. of Castile based on a discourse analysis and a hermeneutical interpretation.

„Арабски“ ранносредновековни мечове в днешните български земи

Author(s): Samuil Kamburov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2017

This article aims at presenting for the first time a different interpretation of the origin of part of the archaeological findings from the Bulgarian lands related to the Early Middle Ages armament for close combat and in particular with the swords and their structural elements. On the basis of parallels and reports from artistic and written sources, the examined samples of arms are viewed through the prism of the Arab (Middle East) military art, which undoubtedly influenced the development of Byzantine military art. It is known that the Eastern Roman Empire (as any empire) is multicultural in its population. A large number of cultures scattered across vast areas of Eastern Europe and Asia are intertwined. This is the reason why we would expect to find the elements of armament, specific for territories far away from Balkans and to relate their occurrence on the lands of First Bulgarian Kingdom with the direct Byzantium influence. Close attention has been paid to the Middle East narratives, which mention the development of Middle East arms centers during the Early Caliphate – VII – VIII century. The great similarity in the constructive meaning of the Early Medieval cut and thrust weapons and their structural elements found in the territory of the Balkans and Middle Europe with examples from the Middle East, suggests that if not directly imported from Asia Minor /by commerce, military way or gifts/they were manufactured under Middle Eastern influence and probably represent a derived part of Middle Eastern military art.

„Заборављени“ ктитори у средњовековној Србији

Author(s): Miloš Ivanović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 6/2018

This paper is dedicated to the analysis of the charters of Serbian rulers in which the ktetors were not mentioned, although they were probably known to the publisher of the documents. The author also used inscriptions and research of art historians to try to answer why this occured. It seems that some ktetors were omitted because they were unfaithful to the ruler. The penalty for this violation was the confiscation of property, including the monastic foundations of the offenders. This scenario is certain in the case of čelnik Radič who was not mentioned as the founder of monastery Vraćevšnica in the charter of Despot Đurađ and Despot Lazar in 1456. With somewhat less probability it can be assumed that the ktetor of the church in Lipljan was not mentioned by King Stefan Dušan for the same reason. These examples point to the existence of the „damnatio memoriae“ phenomenon in medieval Serbia. In other cases the reasons for the absence of ktetor’s names were not of political nature. It can be assumed that some noblemen did not leave descendants who would claim their property which then became, including their foundations as well, part of the royal belongings. Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that some founders had bequeathed their endowments to other, often larger church institutions (e.g. Athonite monasteries). Therefore it should not be surprising that they were forgotten after a relatively long period of time as in the case of the nun Marija. In the end, it must be emphasized that the lack of sources often proved an obstacle in discerning the reasons as to why certain persons were not mentioned as ktetors.

„Кан“ Ногај, краљ Милутин и српско-татарски сукоби крајем ХIII века

Author(s): Aleksandar Uzelac / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1/2009

During the last three decades of the XIIIth century, Nogay (c. 1240–1299), a member of Genghis Khan family and founder of independent Mongol state in the former western teritories of the Golden Horde gradually extended his control on the Carpathian-Danubian basin and Southeastern Europe. Serbian medieval state was also brought under his sway and from the onset of his reign, Stephen Uroš II Milutin (1282–1321) had to deal with Nogay’s Tatars on mаny occasions. When his vassals, lords of Braničevo and Vidin, suffered defeat in Serbian hands, Nogay was instigated to intervene directly in order to stop further Serbian expansion. The threat of Tatar invasion forced Milutin to accept Nogay’s suzerainty and to send his son Stephen and members of Serbian aristocratic military elite „to serve Nogay“, as stated in The Life of Milutin written by Serbian archbishop Daniel II. Conclusion, based not only upon that source, but on comparison with other contemporary and relevant texts and events, is that the arrangement among Milutin and Nogay took place in 1293–1294. Furthermore, prince Stephen returned to Serbia as early as 1297 and this happened shortly before the outbreak of war between Nogay and Tokhta, legitimate khan of Golden Horde. In those years Serbian and Tatar interests had one common trait – enmity towards Byzantium and it is therefore not surprising that contemporaries mentioned simultaneos Serbian and Tatar raids on Byzantine lands. Omnipresent Tatar factor even played a role in subsequent reconciliations between emperor Andronicus II and Serbian king. Following Nogay’s defeat and death in 1299, region witnessed mass immigrations of nomadic elements from Transdanubian lands. One group of Alans and Tatars found refuge in Serbia in 1310, while the country was torn apart by civil war between Milutin and his brother Stephen Dragutin. These nomads on horseback, previously constant and pervasive menace, entered then Milutin’s service and provided crucial victory to him in the most precarious moment of his long reign.

„РИМОВАНА ХРОНИКА” ОТОКАРА ­ ШТАЈЕРСКОГ О УЧЕШЋУ СРБА У РАТУ ЗА УГАРСКУ КРУНУ ПОЧЕТКОМ XIV ВЕКА

Author(s): Nikola Milivojević / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2017

Regarding his kinship and friendship relations with the Angevins, former Serbian King Stefan Uroš Dragutin, motivated by the need for security of his possesions in Hungary and for gaining an ally in his conflict with his brother Milutin in Serbia, decided to support the young Hungarian counter­king Charles Robert, who had retired to the estate of Ugrin Csak during the first phase of the conflict over the Hungarian crown. Dragutin sent military aid to Charles Robert during 1301 („Sirven”) against Bohemian king Vaclav II and his son and successor, Vaclav III in Hungary, and participated in the Charles Robert's military coalition during the Hungarian­Bohemian conflict of 1304 by sending him his well equipped military units. („Razen”). Dragutin's subjects from the Usora area („Bozen”) were also found in the same coalition under leadership of the Bosnian bishop Nikola who had recived them in the name of Dragutin's allied relations with the Catholic Church in Bosnia. To these fact we came on the basis of one and only immediate source for those mentioned events ­ the „Rymmed Chronicle” of Ottokar of Styria, who's testimony coincides with the existing historiography wiews about the Hungarian­Serbian relations at the begining of the XIV century and gives us the basis for establishing a hypothesis about until now unknown Serbian participation in the conflict for the Hungarian crown on the side of Charles Robert.

„Царске шаре црвене”: о заступљености и обрасцима употребе црвеног мастила у документима Немањића

Author(s): Nebojša Porčić / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 53/2016

The paper discusses the presence and patterns of use of red ink in the documents of Serbian rulers belonging to the Nemanjid dynasty (cca 1170–1371). Adopted from Byzantium as a means of emphasizing the ruler’s immediate involvement in the creation of his documents, in Nemanjid usage this practice developed and permanently kept some characteristic traits, encompassing not only elements of royal representation, but also those whose purpose was text decoration and organization. With regard to the scope and forms in which it was applied, three distinct phases can be observed – the first covers the 13th century from the time when the Nemanjid rulers took the title of king, the second was inaugurated by King Milutin’s rapprochement with Byzantium in the early 14th century, and the third by Stefan Dušan’s assumption of the imperial title in 1346.

ახალციხის საფაშო და ჯაყელთა წარმომავლობის საკითხისათვის

Author(s): Kakhaber Gloveli / Language(s): Georgian Issue: 2/2019

n 1490 united Georgian feudal government was dissolved and in its place were established kingdoms of Kartli, Imereti and one principality of Samtskhe. This principality which later was called Samtskhe-Saatabago, had quite successful economy and politics and didn’t draw back from the other kingdoms. There was times when its power exceeded those kingdom’s power. Territory of Samtskhe-Saatabago was equal to one third (1/3) of Georgia. Due to its convenient positions it was never forgotten by Georgian kings and foreign invaders. Samtskhe was ruled by famous dynasty of Jakelians. Their Georgian origin was doubtful for Turkish historian M. Kirzioghlu. We tried our best to show that opinion of Turkish historian is unreasonable.