Historiographical Transformation in the Chronicles of 14th-century Bohemia: A Case Study of Břetislav I
There is no doubt that Břetislav I (1005–1055) was one of the most important princes of the early history of the Přemysl dynasty. The earliest Czech chronicler, Cosmas of Prague, attributes to him not only outstanding successes and reforms, but also sees him as the saviour of the Přemyslid dynas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cerae: An Australasian Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Ceræ |
| Online Access: | https://ceraejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Vol.-11-1-Kovac.pdf |
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| Summary: | There is no doubt that Břetislav I (1005–1055) was one of the most important princes of the early history of the
Přemysl dynasty. The earliest Czech chronicler, Cosmas of Prague, attributes to him not only outstanding
successes and reforms, but also sees him as the saviour of the Přemyslid dynasty and the embodiment of the
virtues attributed to rulers. It was therefore only natural that almost three hundred years later, when Charles
IV commissioned the 'official' Czech court chronicle of the Luxembourg dynasty, Břetislav I was not absent.
However, the narratives of the fourteenth-century sources show a surprising and radical departure from
Cosmas, whose chronicle was certainly their main source. My research compares Cosmas' narrative with that of
Přibík Půlkava, the most successful and important author of Charles IV's great historiographical project, as well
as with the chronicle of the so-called Dalimil, a source written outside the court culture in Old Czech. In my
paper I will discuss a case study of this comparative research, the relationship between Břetislav I and the
Přemysl dynasty, consisting of the depiction of his illegitimate origin and his dynastic marriage with Judith of
Schweinfurt. |
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| ISSN: | 2204-146X |