The Gesta Hungarorum of Anonymus, the Anonymous Notary PDF
Preview The Gesta Hungarorum of Anonymus, the Anonymous Notary
1 THE GESTAHUNGARORUM OFANONYMUS,THE ANONYMOUS NOTARYOFKINGBÉLA ATRANSLATION byMartyn Rady Introduction TheGestaHungarorum oftheAnonymous Notaryof KingBélais theoldest extant chronicleofthehistoryoftheHungarians. It remains ‘themost famous, themost obscure,themost exasperatingandmost misleadingof all theearlyHungariantexts.’1 Purportingtobean account ofthebackground, circumstances andimmediate aftermathoftheHungarianconquest ofPannonia inthelateninthcentury, it was most probablycomposedintheearlyyears ofthethirteenthcenturybya chancelleryclerk whohadformerlybeenintheserviceofKingBéla IIIofHungary(1172-1196).The extant version,whichsurvives inalatethirteenth centurycopy,is apparently incomplete.2 ThesoleMS,consistingof24folios, was first notedinthelibraryof Schloss Ambras, outsideInnsbruck,intheseventeenthcentury,from where it was movedtoViennain1665,andmuchlater,in1928, toBudapest.3 Althoughdetails of theMS wereincludedin twoprintedseventeenth-centurycatalogues ofthe imperial library,its text was not publisheduntil 1746.4 Betweenthen andtheendof the nineteenthcentury,the MS was re-publishedmorethanadozentimes.5 Ascholarly edition,with critical annotation,was first publishedbyGyulaPauler and László Fejérpatakyin1900,6 andarevised editionbyEmil Jakubovichand DezsőPais inthe first volumeof ImreSzentpétery’s Scriptores RerumHungaricarum(2vols, 2 Budapest,1937; hereafter, SRH).7 The Latintext has beentranslatedseveral times into Hungarian,most notablybyPais,8 as well as intoRomanianandGerman.9 What follows is thefirst renderingofthe Latin text intoEnglish. There canscarcelybeanydocument from theMiddleAges that carries such heavypolitical baggage. Thedescriptionwhichtheauthor gives ofthepresence and whereabouts ofpeoples inCentral Europeduringtheninth centuryhas been extensivelyusedtobuttress historical claims toterritories inthetwentieth century. Readings oftheGestaHungarorumwerethus usedafter1918tojustifythe cessionof TransylvaniatoRomania as well as, aftertheSecondWorldWar,ofOroszvárto Czechoslovakia.10 In1987, theGesta acquiredparticularnotorietyonaccount ofa full-pageadvertisement in TheTimes,paidforbytheRomaniangovernment, affirmingthevalidityofthechronicler’s account ofaRomanianpresenceinthe Carpathianbasinmorethanathousand years before.11 Fortunately,modernscholarly readings ofthe GestaHungarorumareless beset bypolitical partisanship since,inthe post-SchengenworldoftheEU,onlydinosaurs careabout whowas where first. Nevertheless,formerinterpretations ofphrases, locations, persons andword-strings, preservedinanolderliterature,mayyet servetoconfusetheunwary,while inremote academiccorners theJurassicAgeis still not quiteover. Theauthorofthe Gesta, knownhistoricallyas the Anonymus (always thus), pretends to giveahistorically-grounded account ofearlyHungarianhistorythat disregards thesongs ofminstrels andthe yarns of yokels,12 but does infact nothingof thesort.Anonymus’s account is essentiallya‘toponymicromance’that seeks to explainplace-names byreferencetoimagined events andpersons.Althoughhegets thenames ofthe earliest Hungarianrulers right,as well as someoftheearlytribal chieftains, hehas theHungarians beatingSlavonicandRomanianleaders whose 3 names arenot attestedto anywhereelse, as well as fightingtheCumans (who appearedinEuropeonlyinthelateeleventhcentury) and,moreincredibly, the Romans. His descriptionofpower-relations north oftheDanube inthelate ninth centuryis not supported byanyotheraccount. It is at best anattempt toproject contemporaryconditions backwards. Clearly,thereis abit of correct historyinAnonymus’s work,andat least afew ofhis heroes canbe ‘cross-checked’against informationgivenbyConstantine Porphyrogenitus, LiudprandofCremona andthe Annals ofSt Gall.13 Anonymus also borrows, extensivelyinplaces, from ReginoofPrum andhis continuator,14 andhe plainlyrelies inpart ondiversewrittenaccounts, someofwhichwouldlaterfeedinto SimonKézai’s latethirteenth-centuryGesta as well as the‘royal chronicles’ofthe Angevinandlaterperiods.15 All three,at least,have shavenCumanheads beingsliced likeripegourds. Contradictoryinformationgiven inhis sources mayalso explainthe uncertainties ofAnonymus’s first few chapters andofÁlmos andÁrpád’s ambiguous relationtothelineofAttila.Additionally,Anonymus mayhavehadat his disposal a ‘List ofDonations’,enumeratingwhichkindreds andclans hadbeen given landofthe ruler.16 Althoughwedoubt verymuchthat sophisticated‘beneficiary’relations existedinHungarybefore1200,it is noticeablethat manychapters concludewith references toland-grants. Theextent towhichtheauthorreliedupon‘oral traditions’ cannot,however,betested. Theidentityof Anonymus is, appropriately,uncertain,althoughvaliant attempts havebeenmade touncloakhim.His styleis ofaFrenchschool,probably Paris orOrleans. Hehas someknowledgeofHungarianthat heuses tosupport his etymologies but hehandles terminal vowels andtheHungarian ‘dative’, -nec/nek endingas ifunawareof Hungarian grammar.17 He is possiblythe first Europeanwriter 4 tocall theBlackSeaas such,which(alongwithseveral otherindicators) maysuggest understandingofaTurkiclanguage.18 Anonymus’s knowledgeofHungarywould, likewise,appearpatchy. His account ofthe geographyoftheregions borderingthe UpperTiszaandMiddle Danubeis detailed,but elsewherehis descriptions arethin.19 Themost that canbesaid about him is that his namebeganwithaP.20 His friend,N, is probably,however,aliteraryfiction. In what follows, wehave not attemptedtoreconcileAnonymus’s account with otherexistingchronicles ofearlyHungarianhistory. This has beendone already,by C.A.Macartney,insomeextensiveworks ofalmost impenetrablescholarshipthat havebeenrecentlyrepublished.21 Onlyinafewplaces, have weindicatedthemore substantial textual borrowings. Forindividual words andphrases, thereaderis directedtospeculations intheSRHeditionandtothecross-referencingtothe Alexandrineromances andotherepicliteratureundertakenbyGyőryand, more recently,bySilagi andVeszprémy.22 Norhavewesought to‘modernize’the names of most persons andplaces, sincethis might betaken as evidenceofpartisanshipwitha specifichistorianor reading.Onlywheretheidentities ofplaces andpersons are beyonddisputehavewetranslatedthem out ofthe Latin.At the expenseof consistency,wehaveretainedtheindeterminacyofU/Vcapitalizationas well as the terminal ‘u’vowel found inOldHungarianproper names. The Latintext followed hereis that providedintheSRH,matched against theoriginal as readinfacsimile.23 In places, wheretheterminologyornomenclatureis oflinguisticorhistorical interest, wehave giventheoriginal Latininparentheses or footnotes. Ourtranslationpreserves therepetitious andbreathless qualityoftheoriginal text. 5 ______________________________________________________ Herebegins theProloguetotheDeeds oftheHungarians P.thesaidmasterandnotaryofthelatemost glorious Béla,kingof Hungary, of fond memory,toN.his most dearfriend,avenerablemanandsteepedintheknowledgeof letters: Greetings, andtheanswertohis plea.For whenwewerestudyingtogetherat school andreadingwithequal enthusiasm thestoryofTroythat Ihadpreparedinone volumeinmyownstyle, bringingmost lovinglytogetherwhat Ihadheardfrom the books ofDares Phrygius24 andotherauthors as well as from mymasters, you asked methat,inthesamewayas IhadwrittenonthehistoryofTroyand onthe wars ofthe Greeks, so towrite for youofthegenealogy[genealogia] ofthekings ofHungaryand oftheirnoblemen: howthesevenleadingpersons, whoare calledtheHetumoger,25 camedownfrom theScythianland,what that Scythianlandwas likeandhowDuke Álmos was bornandwhyÁlmos, from whom thekings ofHungarytracetheirorigin, is calledthefirst dukeof Hungary,andhowmanyrealms andrulers theyconquered andwhythepeople comingforthfrom theScythianlandare calledHungarians inthe speechof foreigners but Magyars [Mogerii] intheirown. Ididindeed promisethat I woulddoso, but hinderedbyothermatters, Imight havealmost entirelyforgotten your request andmypromise,hadnot yourloveadmonishedmeinaletter to dischargethedebt.Mindful thereforeof yourlove,andalthoughhinderedbythe manyandvaried affairs ofthis wearisomeworld, Iam, supportedbyGod’s grace, readytodowhat youhaveordered,accordingtowhat has beenhandeddownby various historians, seeingit as best that it benot lost toafuture generationinthetime tocome. Iconsiderit best that Ishouldwriteto youtruthfullyandplainly,sothat 6 readingit theymayknow what tookplace.Andit wouldbemost unworthyand completelyunfittingfortheso most noblepeople ofHungarytohear as ifinadream ofthebeginnings oftheir kind[primordiasuegenerationis] andoftheirbraveryand deeds from the falsestories ofcountryfolk andthe gabblingsongofminstrels.26 May theynot morenoblyperceivethetruthofmatters from thesureexplanationoftexts andthestraightforwardexpositionofhistorical accounts? HencehappyHungary,to whichmanygifts are given,shouldrejoice all hours inits gift ofletters, becauseit has thebeginningofits line ofkings andnoblemen,forwhichkings shall bepraiseand honourto theKingEternal andtheholyMary,His mother,through whose gracethe kings ofHungaryandnoblemenhavethekingdom forhappypurposehereandever after.Amen. 1. OfScythia Scythiais thenaverygreat land,calledDentumoger,27 overtowards the east, theend ofwhichreaches westwards totheBlackSea[Nigrum Pontem].Onthefarside,it has ariverwith great marshes, calledtheDon[Thanais],wheresables canbefoundin such extraordinaryabundancethat not onlynobles andignobles dress inthem but also withwhichevenox-herds, swine-herds andshepherds adorntheirraiment inthat land. Goldandsilveraboundthereandinthe rivers ofthis landprecious stones andgems. Onits easternside,neighbouringScythia,werethepeoples ‘GogandMagog’,28 whom AlexandertheGreat walledin.29 Scythiais verymarshyinits lengthand breadth,andindeedthe menwhodwell there, commonlycalledDentumoger,have right uptothepresent dayneverbeensubject totheswayof anyemperor. The Scythians arecertainlyanancient people andthe strengthofScythialies in theeast,as wesaidabove.Andthefirst kingofScythiawas Magog,son ofJaphet,andthis 7 peoplewerecalledafter him Moger, from whose royal linethemost renownedand mightyKingAttiladescended,who,inthe451st yearof Our Lord’s birth,coming downfrom Scythia,enteredPannoniawithamightyforce and,puttingtheRomans to flight,tooktherealm and madearoyal residenceforhimselfbesidetheDanubeabove thehot springs,30 andheorderedall theoldbuildings that hefoundtheretobe restoredandhebuilt them inacircular andverystrongwall that intheHungarian languageis nowcalled Budavár[Buduuar] andbytheGermans Etzelburg [Ecilburgu].31 What more!Wewill keeptothestory.Alongtimeafter,there descended from theprogenyofthesame KingMagog,Vgek,fatherofDukeÁlmos, from whom thedukes andkings ofHungarytrace theirorigin, as will besaidinwhat follows. TheScythians, as wesaid,areindeed anancient people,ofwhom historians writingofthedeeds oftheRomans, saidas follows:32 That theScythianpeoplewas most wiseandgentle; theydidnot workthesoil norbarelyknewanysinamongthem. Andtheydidnot havehomes built bycraft but rathertents madeof felt.Theyate meat andfish andmilkandhoneyandtheyhad muchspice.Andtheir clothes wereof thepelts ofsables andotherwildbeasts. Theyhadgold,silverand gems as common as stones, which theyfoundintherivers ofthis land.Theydesiredno one else’s goods, fortheywereall rich,havingmanyanimals andsufficient victuals. Andthere wereno adulterers, for everymankept onlytohis wife.But,later,this people,worn out inwar,became,as somehistorians tell,so cruel that theyateinwrathhumanflesh anddrankthebloodofhumans. And Ibelievethat you maystill knowahardynation byits fruits. TheScythianpeoplewereneversubjugatedbyanyemperor. Forthe Scythians made Darius, kingofthePersians, flee withthegreatest ignominy, and Darius lost there80,000 menandso fledin great feartoPersia. Next,theScythians slewCyrus, kingofPersia,with330,000men.Next,theScythians put tobaseflight 8 evenAlexanderthe Great himself,theson ofKingPhilipandQueenOlympias, who hadconqueredmanykingdoms inwar. AndtheScythian racewas hardysoas to endureall toil andtheScythians werebiginbodyandboldinwar.Andtheyhad nothingintheworldthat theyfearedtolosefor an injurydonetothem.And whenthe Scythians had avictory,theywishednothingofbooty,as dotheirposteritytoday,but sought onlypraise forit.Andexcept forDarius, Cyrus andAlexander,nopeoplein theworld daredentertheirland.TheaforesaidScythianpeoplewereindeedhardyin combat and,onspeedymounts andwithhelmetedheads, theywerebetterwithbows andarrows thanall theothernations oftheworld,and you will knowthis tobeso from theiroffspring. And theScythianland, as muchas it is distant from thetropics, is as healthyforthe generatingoffamilies. Andalthoughspacious enough, it was still insufficient tosustainorkeepthehost ofpeoples begottenthere.On account ofthis, thesevenleadingpersons, whoare calledtheHetumoger, not toleratingthepressures ofspace,thought verygreatlyofasolution.Then thesesevenleadingpersons, having takencounsel together,decidedthat theyshouldforsakethesoil oftheirbirthandtake forthemselves suchlands as theycouldinhabit,as will besaidinwhat follows. 2. WhytheyarecalledHungarians It now remains tosaywhythepeoplewhoset forthfrom theScythianland arecalled Hungarians. TheHungarians areso calledfrom thecastleof Ung[Hungu] wherethe sevenleadingpersons,havingsubjugatedtheSlavs, tarried for atimeupon entering thelandofPannonia.On account ofthis, all thenations roundabout called Álmos, son ofVgek,thedukeof Hunguar[Ungvár] andtheycalledhis warriors Hunguarians.33 What more!Passingoverthesematters, weshall returnto our task, keeptoourstory,and, as theHolySpirit commands, finish theworkbegun. 9 3.OfÁlmos, thefirst duke Inthe819th yearofOur Lord’s birth,Vgek,who, as wesaidabove,beingofthe familyof KingMagogbecamealongtimelaterthemost nobledukeofScythia,took towifeinDentumogerthedaughterofDukeEunedubelian,calledEmesu, from whom hesiredason, who was namedÁlmos. But heis calledÁlmos from adivineevent, because whenshe was pregnant adivinevisionappearedtohis motherina dream in theform ofa falconthat, as ifcomingtoher,impregnatedherandmadeknowntoher that from herwombatorrent wouldcomeforthandfrom herloins glorious kings be generated,but that theywouldnot increaseintheirland.Because,therefore,adream is calledalmuintheHungarianlanguageandhis birthwas predictedin adream,so he was calledÁlmos. Orhe is thus calledÁlmos, that is holy,becauseholykings and dukes werebornofhis line.34 What more! 4. OfDukeÁlmos AndDukeÁlmos, afterhewas bornintotheworld,brought great joytoDukeUgek andhis kinsmen andtoalmost all theleadingmen ofScythiabecausehis fatherVgek was ofthelineof KingMagog. ForÁlmos himselfwas handsomeofface,but dark, andhehaddarkeyes, but bigones; tall andleaninstature,hehadindeedlargehands andwidefingers, andthis Álmos was pious, benevolent, generous, tall,wise,a good soldier, anda giverofcheertoall thosewho were at that timewarriors intheScythian realm.And whenthis Álmos cametofull age, as ifthegift oftheHolySpirit was in him,althoughhewas apagan,hebecame yet morepowerful andwiserthanall the dukes ofScythiaandtheyconductedall thebusiness oftherealm at that timewithhis counsel andhelp.And DukeÁlmos, whenhetocametofull ageof youth, tookawife 10 inthat land,thedaughter ofacertainmost nobleduke,from whom hesired ason by thenameofÁrpád,whom hetookwithhim intoPannonia,as will besaid inthe following. 5. Oftheelection ofDuke Álmos TheHungarianpeople,most valiant andmost powerful inthetasks ofwarthus originated, as wesaidabove,from theScythianpeoplethat is calledinits own languageDentumoger.Andtheirlandwas so full onaccount ofthehost of people borntherethat it was insufficient tosustainorkeepthem,as wesaidabove.On account ofthis, theseven leadingpersons,whoright uptothepresent dayarecalled theHetumoger,findingthephysical constraints unendurable,havingtaken counsel amongthemselves toquit thesoil oftheirbirth,didnot ceaseseekinginbattleand wartooccupylands that theymight livein.Thentheychosetoseekforthemselves thelandofPannoniathat theyhadheardfrom rumourhadbeenthelandof King Attila,from whoseline DukeÁlmos, fatherofÁrpád,descended.Thentheseseven leadingpersons realizedfrom theircommonandtruecounsel that theycouldnot completethejourneybegununless theyhadadukeandruleramongthem. Thus by thefreewill andcommonconsent ofthesevenleadingpersons,theychoseas their dukeandrulerÁlmos, son ofVgek,andthose whodescended from his kin,sons of sons tothelast generation,because DukeÁlmos was theson ofVgek,and thosewho descended from his kinweremoreoutstandingbybirthandmorepowerful inbattle. Thesesevenleadingpersons werenoblemenbybirthandstronginwar, firm intheir faithfulness.Thentheysaidwithequal will toDukeÁlmos: From todaywechoose youas dukeandrulerandwhere yourfortunetakes you,therewill we follow you. ThentoDukeÁlmos the aforesaidmensworeanoath,confirmedinpagan manner
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