The Illuminated Chronicle or Chronicon Pictum (, ) is a medieval illustrated chronicle from the Kingdom of Hungary from the 14th century. It represents the artistic style of the royal court of King Louis I of Hungary. The codex is a unique source of art, medieval and cultural history.
In the prologue, the author calls his work as Chronica de gestis Hungarorum, meaning "Chronicle of the Deeds of the Hungarians".
History of the chronicle
The Illuminated Chronicle was commissioned by King Louis I Hungary and probably completed not long after 1358. The codex was written and illuminated in and after 1358, but no later than 1370, in the Hungarian royal court. King Louis I commissioned the Chronicon Pictum and the Secretum Secretorum, which were both produced in a Hungarian workshop. Miklόs Meggyesi, son of Hertul the court painter of Louis, has traditionally been identified as the illuminator, though there is no real evidence for this. The Illuminated Chronicle was written by Mark of Kalt (, ) in 1358 in Latin.
According to historian Bálint Hóman, the original source of all extant Hungarian chronicles was the lost Gesta Ungarorum, which was written in the time of King Saint Ladislaus. The basic premise of the Hungarian medieval chronicle tradition states that the Huns, i.e. the Hungarians, came out twice from the regions of Scythia, the guiding principle being the Hun-Hungarian continuity.
The chronicle was given by the Hungarian king Louis I to the French king Charles V, when the daughter of Louis, Catherine, was engaged to Charles's son Louis I, Duke of Orléans in 1374. The chronicle was later given to Serbian despot Đurađ Branković as a gift from the French king Charles VII. The chronicle was then copied in 1462. Between 1458 and 1490, it was kept in Hungary, in the court of King Matthias Corvinus. It was later lost, possibly spending some time in the possession of the Ottomans. There is evidence to suggest that in the second half of the 15th century the chronicle was again in Hungary, as it contains several handwritten Hungarian and Latin entries from the period. In three places researchers also found Turkish writing which make various comments regarding Hungary. Because of this, the researchers concluded that sometime between the 15th and 17th century the manuscript was owned by a Hungarian who knew Turkish very well. The chronicle may have been present in Vienna during the infamous Ottoman siege of the 16th century as from at least the 17th century, it belonged to the royal archives in Vienna. Sebastian Tengnagel mentions it in the manuscript catalog of the court library from 1608 to 1636, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Vienna Illuminated Chronicle. As a result of the Venice Cultural Convention, the chronicle was returned to Hungary in 1934. The manuscript is now kept in the National Széchényi Library in Budapest, Hungary.
Illuminations The 147 pictures of the chronicle represent a large source of information on medieval Hungarian cultural history, costume and court life, they're also the most important records extent of Hungarian painting practices in the 14th century. The artistic value is quite high, and the characters are drawn with detail and by artists with a knowledge of anatomy. The chronicle contains 147 miniatures: 10 larger images, 29 images in columns, smaller images painted in medallion shapes at the bottom of 4 pages, 99 images enclosed in initials, and 5 initials without images. In addition, there are 82 pieces of ornamental art painted in the margins.
The images are listed in the same order as their appearance in the chronicle.
Page Illumination DescriptionPage 1King Louis on the ThroneKing Louis I of Hungary is seated in the centre on an elevated throne decorated with mosaics, a canopy, and pinnacles, wearing a crown on his head. He wears white gloves and holds a sceptre in his right hand and an orb in his left. His reddish-brown striped robe is covered by a mantle lined with ermine. To his right stands a group of knights in Western attire and armour, carrying swords and shields, while on his left a group of figures in Eastern dress can be seen. The long-robed figures are armed with bows, arrows, and sabres. These weapons are depicted as royal insignia according to Eastern custom.
Saint Catherine of AlexandriaIn the initial "A", the attributes of Saint Catherine of Alexandria are depicted: a palm branch and a broken wheel. The royal couple, King Louis I and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, are shown kneeling in prayer before the saint.
Christ In the initial "P", Christ is depicted raising His right hand in blessing and holding a book in His left, referring to the biblical text: "By me kings reign".
Coats of Arms of the Hungarian RulerThe coats of arms and helmet crest of Louis I of Hungary: the Hungarian Angevin coat of arms, the Hungarian double-cross coat of arms, and the gold-crowned helmet bearing the Angevin crest: an ostrich head holding a golden horseshoe in its beak, positioned between two ostrich feathers. (The three emblems were also the royal insignia of King Charles Robert of Hungary.Page 2The HistoriographerMark of Kalt, the author of the Illuminated Chronicle. The robe worn by the storyteller in the image is not strictly monastic in appearance, but more ornate, as it is decorated with a gold border. A bearded man sits in front of a mosaic-decorated lectern, writing in a codex. He holds a writing instrument in his right hand, while his left hand presses down the sheet of parchment with a knife. His ink pots are attached to the edge of the lectern.Page 4Raiding and Hunting WarriorsIn a rocky, wooded landscape, three groups of warriors are depicted. At the center, two warriors hunt a bear with the aid of dogs and long spears, while armed men standing on either side of the scene scan the distance. The illustration evokes the chronicle's account of Scythia, which, according to the text, was explored by the Huns, the ancestors of the Hungarians, through "subtle cunning" and was renowned for its forests, abundant vegetation, and diverse wildlife.Page 5The Miraculous StagThe hunt for the Miraculous Stag. A hunting party accompanied by dogs is depicted, with a prominent leader in the foreground, identified as Hunor or Magor. In the left background, a forest can be seen, toward which a hind is moving.Page 7The First Arrival of the Hungarians in PannoniaCastles and residential towers standing on mountain peaks are visible in the background. The Huns, considered by the chronicle to be the ancestors of the Hungarians, are shown entering from the right in the foreground: armoured horsemen, among them a richly dressed leader figure. One of the warriors holds in his right hand a flag extending beyond the frame of the image, bearing the Turul, the legendary bird of the Hungarians. The miniaturist depicts it as a black bird resembling a falcon or eagle on a red background. In the center, men and women follow them, carrying sack-like bundles and children on their backs. Behind them, women and children travel in wagons covered with tarpaulins, followed by warriors riding camels, who bring up the rear of the procession.Page 9Attila's Battle With the Romans at ZeiselmauerThe image depicts the legendary Battle of Zeiselmauer, in which, according to the chronicle, the Huns conquered Pannonia from the Romans. Two groups of horsemen are engaged in fierce combat, while the ground is covered with the bodies of fallen warriors, their blood staining the battlefield red. On the right side of the image, one soldier carries a red-and-white striped shield, while at the center of the composition another warrior bears a golden banner adorned with a Turul bird, seemingly emerging from the miniature itself.Page 10King Attila on the ThroneAttila as the first Hungarian king, seated on a throne and dressed in royal attire, holding the symbols of kingship: a crown, orb, and scepter.Page 11King AttilaIn the initial "P", King Attila.Page 13King AttilaKing Attila as the first Hungarian king in the Illuminated Chronicle. He is shown wearing a crown, holding a sabre in his right hand and an orb in his left. The warrior king who "makes nations flee".Page 14Attila is Besieging AquileiaThe Huns, led by Attila, are besieging Aquileia. One Hun warrior carries a shield decorated with a lion, while another bears a Turul flag.Page 14King AttilaKing Attila with a crown, sword, and the Turul bird in his shield.Page 15Foundation of VeniceKing Attila of the Huns besieged Aquileia. Aquileian inhabitants wearing Italian-style clothing flee by boat across the sea. The city depicted in the background may be Aquileia, but it is more likely to represent Venice, built on lagoons near the coast. According to the text, the inhabitants of Aquileia first fled to a sea island and later founded Venice on the island of Rialto.Page 16King Attila and Pope LeoAttila is meeting Pope Leo. The armored Attila sits on a white horse among his soldiers and looks at the figure floating above his head.Page 17The Death of AttilaA heavily blurred and barely visible miniature. According to the chronicle, Attila died from a nosebleed on the wedding night of his marriage to Micolt. In the image, Attila is already lying dead, while Micolt sits beside him on the bed, announcing the king's death to those standing nearby.Page 21The Arrival of the Hungarians in PannoniaAccording to the chronicle, the second arrival of the Hungarians in Pannonia, the event now known as the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin. The image depicts several scenes simultaneously. In the center, Árpád, surrounded by the Hungarians who are shouting the name of God three times, tastes the water of the Danube from a drinking horn, to his left stands Kusid, holding a flask. On the left side, Prince Svatopluk, seated on his throne, receives Kusid, the envoy of the Hungarians. Beside him, a kneeling groom wearing a fur cap holds a white horse with a golden saddle by its bridle. In the center-right, Árpád is shown on a white horse, accompanied by the six chieftains and armored warriors carrying spears. In the right foreground, a group of women and children emerges from a sunken road. The entire background of the image is filled with a rocky mountainous landscape with castles, while shepherds drive cattle among the rocks.
Előd, Hungarian ChieftainIn the initial "D", the Hungarian chieftain Előd, father of Álmos, is depicted holding a spear in his right hand and resting his left hand on a shield decorated with a representation of the Turul. (Based on the text, it is not entirely clear whether the chieftain portrayed is Előd or Árpád).