Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum
The Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum[1] (Latin: "Deeds of the Huns and Hungarians") is a medieval chronicle written mainly by Simon of Kéza around 1282-1285. It is one of the sources of early Hungarian history.[2] It is also known as the Gesta Hungarorum (II) (Latin: "Deeds of the Hungarians"), the "(II)" indicating its status as an expansion of the original Gesta Hungarorum (written around 1200).
The work is dated to 1282-1285 as it includes the Battle of Hódtó (1282) but does not mention the Tatar invasion in 1285.
The work combines Hunnish legend with history. It consists of two parts: the Hunnish legend ("Hunnish Chronicle"), expanded with Hungarian oral tales;[2] and a history of the Kingdom of Hungary since the original Gesta Hungaronum.
Simon of Kéza was a court cleric of King Ladislaus IV. (reigned 1272 – 1290). He travelled widely in Italy, France and Germany and culled his epic and poetic materials from a broad range of readings.
By Kéza's own admission, he used contemporary German, Italian and French chronicles, but it has been proved that he freely used Hungarian sources also.[2]
The Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum was edited and translated in 1999 by László Veszprémy and Frank Schaer for the Central European University.
Sources
- ↑ Reader's encyclopedia of Eastern European literature, 1993, Robert B. Pynsent, Sonia I. Kanikova, p. 529.
- 1 2 3 Múlt-kor történelmi portál
External links
- Hungarian translation of Simon's Gesta (Hungarian)
- Article about Simon of Kéza and the Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum (Hungarian)
