The article constitutes a contribution to the critique of the printed edition of mediaeval municipal ledgers of Cracow from the years 1390-1410. The author discusses the editorial method, indicates its errors, and using selected examples, compares fragments of the available edition with its manuscript basis, stressing the importance of manuscript municipal ledgers of Cracow for the research on various aspects of city life in the capital of the Kingdom of Poland at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. He also propounds that further research on that topic should be undertaken.
The Middle Ages are considered a very misogynistic era. However, the case of Hildegard of Bingen shows that even then women could excel in independence. The list of terms that describe Hildegard of Bingen is long: mystic, visionary, prophetess, artist, poet, theologian, Sibyl of the Rhine are just some of them. She was an extraordinary person. She fascinates us with the breadth of her interests that go beyond the times in which she lived. She was the only woman of the Middle Ages to teach publicly and the first to obtain the Pope’s permission to write theological works. She was characterized by leadership qualities, stubbornness, and determination in pursuing the chosen goal. She assigned herself the role of a vassal carrying out the mission entrusted by God. She instructed the rulers and disciplined the popes in the most misogynistic of the epochs. She had a lot of strength to go against the will of her superiors and to carry out her plans. On the occasion of the eight hundredth anniversary of her death, John Paul II called her a light for people who shines brighter today than ever, and in 2012 she was proclaimed a doctor of the Church.
Although there are many publications, mostly from before the Revolution, on divorces in Rus and Russia, the issue of divorces in the Rurik dynasty in the Middle Ages has not been discussed separately. The present article is in fact the first attempt to present the reasons, circumstances and procedures of ducal divorces in the 12th and 13th c. In the first part the author tries to estimate the total number of divorces in the important and relatively well-documented lines of the Rurik dynasty (Mstislavovich and Vsevolodovich lines) and their share in the total number of divorces documented in the sources on the dynasty. The second part discusses nine examples of ducal divorces. On the basis of the facts connected with the breakdown of the relevant marriages the author stipulates that divorce was not uncommon in Rus at that time. For instance, out of the fifteen children of Mstislav Fyodor Vladimirovich Monomakhovich who are noted in sources, two divorced their partners, and so did two of the ten children of Vsevolod Yurievich the Big Nest. The legal options of dissolving a marriage included: sending the wife away by the husband, divorce by mutual agreement, detaining one of the spouses by a person who had authority over him/her, entering a convent by one of the spouses, divorce due to a lengthy absence and not fulfilling marital duties. There was one example of an illegal divorce forced by a third party (forcing the spouses to enter a convent). There were no cases of annulling marriages because of the spouses being too closely related, which was common in the West. The results indicate that this previously unexplored topic deserves further investigation. Researching it deepens our knowledge about the mediaeval culture of Rus and about its ducal families treated as social units.
Christian ethics made charity one of the basic duties of a good Christian. In Silesia both hospital endowments and individual acts of supporting the poor and the sick were initially connected solely with dukes and Church hierarchs. The first mentions of the charitable acts of burghers come from the first half of the 14?th c. This form of devoutness was first adopted by the burgher élite and it spread to wider circles only at the turn of the 15th c., when varied forms of charity were developed. The most common form of charitable support was a legacy for footwear and clothing for the poor. Clothing was distributed in the form of the locally-produced, therefore the cheapest, woollen cloth. Fifteenth-century sources also mention that ready garments were sometimes distributed. Legacies intended to finance food were less common, although some benefactors formulated their wills in a flexible way, recommending the purchase of food instead of footwear and garments at the time of food shortage. The food distributed was mostly rye (or wheat) bread, rarely rolls. There were also legacies specifically intended for the purchase of fish (primarily herrings) or meat, or beer. A common charitable act was to fund the use of baths for the poor. Such charitable baths were usually organized on Mondays, which was connected with the eschatological dimension of charitable foundations (Monday was customarily the day of prayers for the dead, in which the poor had to participate). There are a few examples of scholarship funds, usually directed at persons known to the donors. There is also an early example of a dowry fund for prostitutes. The endowments could have a symbolic aspect. It was quite common to donate to groups of the apostolic number of 12 or 13 people. Food was usually distributed during the major Church holidays (Christmas, Easter, Whit Sunday), so that the poor could celebrate and pray for their benefactors. Care was taken to distribute fasting food during Lent. Some legacies were utilitarian and adapted to seasons - they provided for bread during the period preceding the new harvest and for footwear and clothing in winter. In the general structure of pious legacies charitable donations had a secondary role. Sometimes they were conditional (they were effective only in case of the proper inheritor's death or when a liturgical foundation could not be executed) or they concerned old and worn out things. It is quite clear from the sources that in the late Middle Ages both the Church and the municipal authorities treated charitable funds in an instrumental way.
Messianism, understood as faith in the coming of a Messiah who will usher in a better future and complete the work of redemption has little in common with the recognition of suprasensory, direct contact with the deity, proclaimed by mystics. In practice, both these currents often occurred in the Judaic faith. Both the numerous mystics and many followers of Messianism were inclined to believe that the allegorical interpretation of the divine word contained in the Revelation could lead to true acquaintance with the Creator and his plans for mankind. The article attempts to show how the Karaite movement, which certainly was one of the most powerful Jewish messianic movements in the Middle Ages, condemned any manifestations of mysticism, both in the form of mystical union with the Lord and the possibilities of getting to know Him thanks to an allegorical interpretation of the Scriptures. To this end, analyses were made of Biblical commentaries of the leading Karaite exegetes from the so-called Golden Age (10th-11th centuries). Most of the analysed works have not been subject to critical editions yet and are only accessible in the form of manuscripts written in the Judeo-Arabic language. The authors of the commentaries represent various hermeneutic approaches. However, what all of them have in common is the prevalence of a rationalist element in the approach to exegesis and an attempt to come up with a scientific interpretation of the holy writings and the rejection of all exoteric, 'deeper' meanings and interpretations of the Scriptures.
The contribution seeks to present the newest finds of recessed medieval cupola ovens in Nitra region. The finds were excavated by the Department of Archaeology at the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. The paper provides a detailed analysis of a system of three connected recessed cupola ovens from Nitra, Dolné Krškany and a recessed single-chamber cupola oven with entry steps from Svätoplukovo. The material from this locality dates back to the second half of the 11th until the beginning of the 13th century. In Slovakia, their concentration is significant predominantly in the Nitra region; therefore, the paper attempts to evaluate these ovens in the context of analogous finds known from other medieval settlements in the region. In conclusion, the contribution also interprets their possible function and usage.
The aim of the paper is to draw attention to a newly discovered locality Balatonalmádi-Felsőhegy, where some Late Avar findings were found in winter 2019. One of them was a fitting in shape of boar head, which with other new findings of this type from Hungary is analysed and put in our earlier published typology. The ‘boar’ on horse harness had its meaning in Late Avar society or in military hierarchy, but its precise content is uncertain.
A large part of the Iberian Peninsula still belonged to the Muslim world and the West European thinkers so often sought scientific dialogue in search of philosophical and theological truth with the Muslim, but also the Jewish culture. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote an extensive work during his professorship at the University of Paris called “Summa contra gentiles”. Through it he sought to lead an in-depth dialogue with these great cultures. This dialogue was based on the truth of things as well as the spirit of truth and not some episodic or tactical opportunism. The disputes with the renegade believers are somewhat simpler because we can turn to the authority of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but if their participants are Muslims or Jews, we must resort to the authority of the Old Testament. For a dialogue with non-believers, we must turn to argue only on the basis of reason. However, this would be insufficient in religious matters. Unlike the Muslims, we cannot rely on force or the army, or the lure of worldly promises. Even miracles are not the first argument. The crucial importance in this dialogue is given to the gospel, which, far better than any miracles, shines through the witness of the worn and simple people who are able to believe the difficult truth, hope the high-profile reality and lead difficult lives. The introduction of Avicenna and Averroes into the controversy with Christian truth was not without consequences for St. Thomas. It lasted more than a century after his death. After a temporal ban by the Parisian bishop, the doctrine of St. Thomas was again allowed at this university. Ultimately, however, faith and reason cannot be opposed but only understood in their mutual compliance. This “theologically substantiated secularity” of St. Thomas, mainly based on Aristotle’s doctrine, represents an important message of the medieval Christian West for today.
Assoc. Prof. Marek Dulinicz, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, deputy director of the Institute for scientific affairs, lecturer at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw and the Aleksander Gieysztor Pultusk Academy of Humanities, specialist on Early Medieval European archaeology and especially the archaeology of Western Slavs, died together with his wife in a car accident on 6 June 2010. He had been part of our Institute for thirty years, having joined the staff right after receiving his diploma from the University of Warsaw on the grounds of an MA study on Settlement in the late period of Roman influences and Early Middle Ages in southeastern Poland. He was first associated with the Institute as a PhD candidate, and in 1988 he obtained his doctoral degree for the dissertation in the field of archaeology on Settlement processes in Masovia (from the younger Pre-Roman period until the Early Middle Ages). In 2002 he received a habilitation degree in archaeology (his book was devoted to The emergence of northwestern Slavdom. Archaeological study). In 1994-2002, Marek Dulinicz headed the Institute's Department of the Archaeology of Masovia and Podlaquia; in 2003, he was nominated deputy director of the Institute for scientific affairs. Both his field and office research were impressive to say the least. The research interests were concentrated around key issues of the Middle Ages in mainly Masovia and Podlaquia and central Europe. He was a member or head of research teams and author of comprehensive reports on excavations conducted on several dozen archaeological sites, mainly in Masovia; he directed the work of the Masovian Archaeological Expedition, he coordinated the Masovian part of the Research Program Poland in the Days of the Gniezno Assembly, and research connected with rescuing the cultural heritage of eastern Masovia. Some of these projects were carried out in association with abroad institutions. One should mention a joint project (1994-1999) with the Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität in Frankfurt am Main, aimed at archaeological verification of Early Medieval strongholds in Masovia; finally, the program Archaeological research on early Slavic settlement in the Middle Vistula basin, co-financed by the Polish-German Cooperation Foundation, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Institute, which M. Dulinicz directed together with Dr. Felix Biermann. Other research projects included in 1998-2008 the Slavs as an element of the Medieval european cultural mosaic, engendering numerous publications, including books. He was also actively involved in preparing comprehensive reforms that were to adapt the Institute to the new conditions set before Polish science.He as part of the international scholarly circuit from the very beginning during his sholarship grants from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Conference of Rectors of Science Academies in Germany's Federation Lands; frequently visiting European countries. He was an active member of various organizations and scientific editorial boards. Marek Dulinicz was a prudent and industrious man, searching for optimal solutions to difficult problems, a perfect administrator, but foremost a researcher of European standing.
In the 11th century, several reforms took place in the Catholic Church, which also concerned the ministry and position of bishops. Bishops formed only a small but influential part of the life of the Christian community. From the Romanesque period, the first detailed information about the life of bishops from non-hagiographic sources has been preserved. At the same time, requirements were defined as to the characteristics of an orthodox Catholic bishop. During this period, the office of archbishop was established. The bishop was elected by the chapter according to the usual rules. The importance of the cathedral and the episcopal liturgy increased. The bishops reserved some sacramental acts and decisions just for themselves. The four Lateran Councils paid wide attention to the bishops; the article lists all the relevant canons of these councils on bishops. In Romanesque times, the position of the bishop in the Catholic Church was highlighted and strengthened, and at the same time he gained an important place in secular society. The bishops were autonomous vis-à-vis the pope, so the individual dioceses differed from each other, but certain intellectual, cultural and spiritual influences had an impact on the universal Christian community. The bishops had an important word in the administration of the lands, they were advisers to the rulers, and only those who met certain qualities (which were new compared to the previous time) could be bishops, but on the other hand it was not possible to bypass the rulers with the appointment. This heritage was influential until the late middle ages.
In one of the graves at the Avar Kaghanate Period graveyard, two earrings with pendilia characteristic of the Pre-Köttlach Horizon were found. Along with them was in the grave a necklace composed of typical Avar beads. The find dates back to the second half of the 8th century, with an emphasis on its last quarter.
In this article, concerning the recently published study of Martin Čapský, an attempt is made to show the relevance of Świdnica to the formation of the concept of succession in the Bohemian Crown outside the core of the Crown that being Bohemia (Czech Kingdom) in Silesia. In these actions, focusing mainly around Wrocław, of some significance was also Świdnica, as the main city of two associated areas, bordering with Bohemia, Silesian duchies linked by succession with the Bohemian Crown: the Świdnica and Jawor duchies. In the situation in which Sigismund of Luxemburg found himself after being dethroned by the Hussite movement in Bohemia in 1421, and also due to Świdnica and Jawor duchies not being an inheritance from his mother (unlike the situation with his older brother, Wenceslaus IV) of importance is the enterprising approach to the succession of the younger Luxemburg on the Bohemian throne and in the Świdnica and Jawor duchies. Świdnica and the neighbouring Jawor were ideal for this purpose, also due to decoration programs for sacral and lay buildings. In the times of Sigismund said programs, also those in Strzegom, were enhanced with new elements (decorative paintings of the City Hall in Świdnica, the Carmelite church in Strzegom). Thusly the public space of these three towns complemented the far richer, in this context, Wrocław. In time a tradition of receiving the tribute of Silesian estates by the Bohemian king in Wrocław, and the tribute of the estates of Świdnica and Jawor in Świdnica solidified. The symbolic space of the city, created in the time of last Luxemburgs constituted the perfect scenery for these celebrations.
The essential aim of this paper is to conduct a brief exploration of Dobroslav Orel’s system of musicological work, in connection with researching medieval musical culture from the territory of Slovakia. Slovak musicology, its foundations, goals, and methods of treatment of sources, are closely connected with this outstanding figure in Czechoslovak musical culture. The consideration of Orel’s activity in Slovakia includes an analysis of research, treatment and publication of our oldest music sources.
The aim of the article is to approach the formation of epigraphic culture in Tekov until 1650 on the basis of field and archival research. The article focuses on cultural and economic changes that have affected written culture in general, especially the inscription culture, discusses the development of writing, clients and authors of historical inscriptions. Readers will get acquainted with the historical specifics of the Tekov region and the most important monuments in the epigraphic context.
The article deals with the problem of authenticity of the document of Gunter the bishop of Plock and the Plock chapter of March 17, 1230 confirming the grant of all the land estates belonging to them and most rights in the Land of Chelmno to the Teutonic Order. Considering the arguments for and against the authenticity of that document, the author concludes that it is indeed false but was based on an authentic document of bishop Gunter and his chapter of March17, 1230. The degree of falsification is, according to the author, minimal because to the list of land estates and rights actually granted to the Order only all tithes from the Land of Chelmno were added, and some corrections were made in order to authenticate the range of that grant. Following the suppositions of M. Perlbach, the author dates the creation of the false document of March17, 1230 to the period immediately preceding the negotiations of the Order with Andrzej, bishop of Plock, which ended with an agreement signed in Parchanie on November 19, 1257.
The article includes a detailed analysis of pagan beliefs in 'Summa de Confesionis Discretione', the handbook which was found in a Cistercian monastery in Rudy in the Upper Silesia. The authoress traces back the origin of the written monument, contending that it was written in the 13th century in Germany. To Silesia, the work may have come along with the German settlers who stayed in the Cistercian estate. Then, the authoress reconsiders the contents of 'Summa' in the light of comparative materials of that era; finally, she broadly analyses various pagan beliefs and folk customs described in 'Summa', comparing them with the ethnographic material from Poland, Bohemia and Germany. Original article printed with German abstract.
The article presents results of a rescue excavation of a cemetery situated on the location Doboskút in the village of Mostová (district Galanta) in south-western Slovakia. The rescue excavation was undertaken in 1983 in connection with regulation of the old river bed. The settlement dated to several periods was discovered on the dunes, especially a La Tène settlement and a medieval cemetery. Damaged site enabled only partial survey of the cemetery, totally 24 graves. Only some of them contained except skeletons also objects of the grave inventory, exclusively jewellery. The finds date the site to the tenth century.
This article describes Timbuktu manuscript condition. Timbuktu, Mali is the legendary city founded as a commercial centre in West Africa nine hundred years ago. Dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries, the ancient manuscripts presented in this article cover every aspect of human endeavour and are indicative of the high level of civilization attained by West Africans during the Middle Ages and the pre-colonial period. The manuscripts are written in various styles of the Arabic script. These styles were developed in Timbuktu and the surrounding regions of Mali and West Africa. The chain of the manuscript redraws the creation process of the manuscripts in the respect of the materials, which make it up. The article suggests that the rehabilitation of the workshops of the scribes for the conservation and the restoration of the manuscripts.
This study was inspired by the comments on the role of „public spectators“ in the interpretation of elements of symbolic communication in the Middle Ages. The author focuses on three types of issues. The first concerns the reasons for which Sigismund of Luxemburg accepted the tribute of Silesian dukes in Świdnica. The second part of the article concerns the strategic role Wrocław played in this rulers reign, while the third focuses on some aspects of exercising ruling seniority in the Świdnica and Jawor duchies. Bogusław Czechowicz put forth a controversial proposition about the reason for receiving tribute in Świdnica. He pointed out that the main addressee of this show of loyalty to the monarch were the Bohemian Hussites or Prague. However, some (lost) iconographic relics were to legitimize Sigismund’s claim to the Roman throne. The author of this study notes that while interpreting elements of symbolic discourse one must always take into account not only the historical context of the event but also the recipient of said work. The author also points out interpretational difficulties caused by the recipient changing through time, his expectations and interpretational limitations of modern historiography. One may assume that in the first part of the 15th century the “memory” of the dukes of Świdnica and Jawor retained actions related to the power holding and its legitimization in these duchies.
This article, a study in dynastic microgenealogy clarifies, on a given example, the motivations and both political and cultural consequences of a certain Polish-Russian marriage. This concerns the union of Bolesław I the Tall (Wysoki, 1127-1201), the eldest son of the Polish lord Władysław II the Exile, and Zwienisława, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Kiev, Wsiewołod Olegowicz. The article corrects certain chronological inconsistencies embedded in literature, concerning the date of the marriage, as well as resulting from it campaign of Russian forces to aid Władysław II, who was fighting the Junior Dukes. According to the author, the marriage of Boleslaw and Zwienisława took place between March 1, 1142 and the atmospheric winter ending that year. The author also investigated the issue of, almost universally incorrectly interpreted by historians, Polish political situation in Russia. The author assures that aside from the episode of 1139 there was no conflict between Olegowiczes, led by Wsiewołod Olegowicz and Monomachowiczes – the descendants of Włodzimierz Wsiewołodowicz Monomach. This could not have been a factor contributing to the reasons for marriage of Bolesław and Zwienisława.
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