The Styrian Rhyming Chronicle

Pavlína Rychterová, Lukas Steger

This project has the goal to prepare a modern English translation and historical contextualization of the Styrian Rhymed Chronicle by Ottokar of Gaal, one of the most important works of late medieval historiography in the German-speaking Central Europe. Written between around 1300 and 1320, the chronicle comprises some 95,000 verses and is characterized by its narrative richness, colorful language, and detailed account of political events in Austria, Styria, and Central Europe. Ottokar's work not only offers a valuable source for regional history, but also reflects the political tensions and cultural developments of a transitional period between the High and Late Middle Ages. At the same time, it shows how historiography, legitimization of rule, and literary form were closely intertwined.

The English translation will be published in the Central European Medieval Texts series by CEU Press. This series aims to make key sources from the medieval cultures of Central Europe accessible to an international audience. It combines reliable critical editions and translations with detailed introductions, commentaries, and aids. The series thus bridges the gap between specialized research interests and a wider readership interested in the history, literature, and culture of Central Europe.

Chronica Bohemorum

Jan Odstrčilík, Pavlína Rychterová

The project is dedicated to the digital edition of the Bohemian Chronicle by Přibík Pulkava of Radenín. Přibík Pulkava of Radenín († 1380) was a Bohemian clergyman, theologian, and chronicler at the court of Emperor Charles IV. As a canon of Prague and later rector of Prague University, he was in close contact with the intellectual and political circles of his time. On the emperor's behalf, he wrote a comprehensive chronicle of Bohemian history, which soon spread far beyond the court. The Chronica Bohemorum was written in the 1370s and offers a coherent account of Bohemian history from its legendary beginnings to the time of Charles IV. It combines older narrative traditions with contemporary perspectives and conveys an image of Bohemia as part of the Holy Roman Empire and at the same time as an independent, tradition-rich realm. The work reflects the political and cultural ideals of the 14th century: the emphasis on dynastic legitimacy, the Christian moral orientation of the realm, and the role of Prague as the intellectual center of Central Europe. The chronicle's tradition is rich and diverse. Originally written in Latin, it was soon translated into Czech and German versions, which attests to its great historical impact and wide reception. The manuscripts, which are available in various versions and adaptations, show both courtly and vernacular usage and testify to the chronicle's significance as a guiding text of Bohemian historiography. The digital edition makes this multifaceted tradition systematically accessible for the first time, opens up its text variants, and provides new insights into the historical culture of the late Middle Ages. Work on the edition is being carried out in a broad-based international cooperation involving the IMAFO ÖAW, the Center for Medieval Studies, and the Institute for the Czech Language of the Czech Academy of Sciences.