The Livonian Rhymed Chronicle[1] (German: Livländische Reimchronik) is a chronicle written in Middle High German by an anonymous author. It covers the period 1180 – 1343 and contains a wealth of detail about Livonia — modern South Estonia and Latvia.
The Rhymed Chronicle was composed to be read to the crusading knights of the Livonian Order during their meals. Its primary function was to inspire the knights and legitimise the northern Crusades. As such, it is infused with elements of romance and exaggerated for the purpose of drama. However, this is debated by A. Murray.[citation needed] He suggests that during mealtimes the knights were read sections of the Bible or the word of God, so that they could 'receive spiritual as well as corporal nourishment'. There was little of this in the Chronicle. There is also the fact that the Chronicle is written in high German, and the majority of the knights who were in Livonia at that time would have spoken low German. This would mean that they would have struggled to have understood what was being read to them anyway. Murray argues that due to its imagery used to describe the battles and its focus on military expeditions it is more likely to have served a purpose to appeal to the mentality of those who may have volunteered for service with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and Teutonic Order to encourage them to join the orders.
The Younger Chronicle
A second rhyme chronicle, known as the Younger Livonian Rhymed Chronicle, was written in Low German by Bartholomäus Hoeneke, chaplain of the Master of the Livonian Order, around the end of the 1340s. It is this chronicle that narrates how Estonians slaughtered their own nobility and called the Livonian Order to Estonia, which, in turn, butchered them, on 1343. The original is lost but prose paraphrases survive.
Editions
Fragment einer Urkunde der ältesten livländischen Geschichte in Versen. Ed. Lib. Bergmann. Riga 1817
^The Livonian Rhymed Chronicle Published 1977, Indiana University
Further reading
Hartmut Kugler: "Über die "Livländische Reimchronik": Text, Gedächtnis und Topographie". In: Brüder-Grimm-Gesellschaft: Jahrbuch der Brüder-Grimm-Gesellschaft, vol. 2 (1992), pp. 85–104.
"Ditleb von Alnpeke", in: Allgemeines Schriftsteller- und Gelehrten-Lexikon der Provinzen Livland, Estland und Lettland, ed. J. F. v. Recke and C. E. Napiersky. Vol. I: A-F, Mitau 1827, online.
Alan V. Murray: "The structure, genre and intended audience of the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle". In: Crusade and conversion on the Baltic frontier, 1150-1500. ed. Alan V. Murray, Aldershot 2001, pp. 235–251.
April 09, 2023
livonian, rhymed, chronicle, german, livländische, reimchronik, chronicle, written, middle, high, german, anonymous, author, covers, period, 1180, 1343, contains, wealth, detail, about, livonia, modern, south, estonia, latvia, contents, chronicle, younger, chr. The Livonian Rhymed Chronicle 1 German Livlandische Reimchronik is a chronicle written in Middle High German by an anonymous author It covers the period 1180 1343 and contains a wealth of detail about Livonia modern South Estonia and Latvia Contents 1 The old Chronicle 2 The Younger Chronicle 3 Editions 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingThe old Chronicle EditThe Rhymed Chronicle was composed to be read to the crusading knights of the Livonian Order during their meals Its primary function was to inspire the knights and legitimise the northern Crusades As such it is infused with elements of romance and exaggerated for the purpose of drama However this is debated by A Murray citation needed He suggests that during mealtimes the knights were read sections of the Bible or the word of God so that they could receive spiritual as well as corporal nourishment There was little of this in the Chronicle There is also the fact that the Chronicle is written in high German and the majority of the knights who were in Livonia at that time would have spoken low German This would mean that they would have struggled to have understood what was being read to them anyway Murray argues that due to its imagery used to describe the battles and its focus on military expeditions it is more likely to have served a purpose to appeal to the mentality of those who may have volunteered for service with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and Teutonic Order to encourage them to join the orders The Younger Chronicle EditA second rhyme chronicle known as the Younger Livonian Rhymed Chronicle was written in Low German by Bartholomaus Hoeneke chaplain of the Master of the Livonian Order around the end of the 1340s It is this chronicle that narrates how Estonians slaughtered their own nobility and called the Livonian Order to Estonia which in turn butchered them on 1343 The original is lost but prose paraphrases survive Editions EditFragment einer Urkunde der altesten livlandischen Geschichte in Versen Ed Lib Bergmann Riga 1817 Livlandische Reimchronik Ed Franz Pfeiffer Stuttgart 1844 1 Reprint Amsterdam 1969 Livlandische Reimchronik Mit Anmerkungen Namenverzeichnis und Glossar Ed Leo Meyer Paderborn 1876 Reprint Hildesheim 1963 Atskanu hronika Transl Valdis Bisenieks ed Evalds Mugurevics Riga 1998 Liivimaa vanem riimkroonika Transl Urmas Eelmae Tallinn 2003 Cronaca Rimata della Livonia Livlandische Reimchronik Original parallel Text Transl Piero Bugiani Viterbo 2016 See also EditLivonian Chronicle of HenryReferences Edit The Livonian Rhymed Chronicle Published 1977 Indiana UniversityFurther reading EditHartmut Kugler Uber die Livlandische Reimchronik Text Gedachtnis und Topographie In Bruder Grimm Gesellschaft Jahrbuch der Bruder Grimm Gesellschaft vol 2 1992 pp 85 104 Ditleb von Alnpeke in Allgemeines Schriftsteller und Gelehrten Lexikon der Provinzen Livland Estland und Lettland ed J F v Recke and C E Napiersky Vol I A F Mitau 1827 online Alan V Murray The structure genre and intended audience of the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle In Crusade and conversion on the Baltic frontier 1150 1500 ed Alan V Murray Aldershot 2001 pp 235 251 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Livonian Rhymed Chronicle amp oldid 1143712452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
