|
[[File:Text from the Chronicle of Morea.png|thumb|Fragmentum textús Graeci ''Chronici Moreae'']]
[[File:Text from the Chronicle of Morea.png|300px|thumb|right|Text from the Chronicle of the Morea <ref name="Bury">J.B. Bury, in page 386, Appendix of volume 9, Notes by the Editor, in the (New York: Fred de Fau and Co., 1906) edition of ''Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776)'', ed. J.B. Bury with an Introduction by W.E.H. Lecky.</ref>]]
'''''Chronicon Moreae''''' ([[Graece]] {{Polytonic|Χρονικὸν τοῦ Μορέως}}) est narratio epica sive potius historica, saeculo XIV ineunte composita, recensionibus variis in quattuor linguis servata. Reperiuntur enim in libris manuscriptis recensiones [[Lingua Graeca|Graeca]], [[Lingua Francogallica|Francogallica]], [[Lingua Italiana|Italiana]] et [[Lingua Aragonensis|Aragonensis]]. Antiquior (sed haud prototypus) est Graeca, [[versus politicus|versibus politicis]] quindecim syllaborum expressa. Aliae oratione soluta scriptae sunt. Origo omnium Graece compositum anno circiter 1325 satis constat.<ref>"The common ancestor" in [[#Shawcross|Shawcross (2009)]] pp. 42-52</ref> Narratio praebetur rerum ab illis [[Imperium Latinum|Latinis]] [[Quarta expeditio sacra|quartae expeditionis sacrae]] gestarum qui, [[Constantinopolis|Constantinopoli]] nuper anno [[1204]] capta, [[Peloponnesus|Peloponnesum]] obsederunt et a ducibus [[Graecia|Graecis]] arripuerunt. Historia [[Principatus Achaeae]] aliarumque dominiorum usque ad annum [[1292]] evolvitur, et in aliquibus recensionibus etiam tardius.
== Notae ==
The '''''Chronicle of the Morea''''' ({{lang-el|Το χρονικόν του Μορέως}}) is a long 14th-century history text, of which four versions are extant: in [[French language|French]], [[Medieval Greek|Greek]] (in verse), [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[Aragonese language|Aragonese]]. More than 9,000 lines long, the ''Chronicle'' narrates events of the [[Crusades|Franks]]' establishment of [[feudalism]] in mainland [[Greece]]. West European Crusaders settled in the [[Peloponnese]] (called [[Morea]] at the time) following the [[Fourth Crusade]]. The period covered in the ''Chronicle'' was 1204 to 1292 (or later, depending on the version). It gives significant details on the civic organization of the [[Principality of Achaia]].
<div class="references-small"><references /></div>
== Bibliographia ==
==The extant texts of the ''Chronicle of the Morea''==
; Editiones et versiones
The Greek text is the only text written in verse. The French, Italian and Aragonese texts are written in prose.<ref name="Polet">Jean-Claude Polet, ''Patrimoine littéraire européen'', De Boeck Université, 1995, ISBN 2-8041-2077-5</ref>
* J. A. Buchon, ed. et interpr., ''Chronique de la conquête de Constantinople et de l'éstablissement des Français en Morée''. Lutetiae: Verdière, 1825 {{Ling|Francogallice}}
* Adolf Ellissen, ed. et interpr., ''Die Franken im Peloponnes: I. Geoffroy von Villehardoin, nach der griechischen Verschronik der Franken in Morea, Originaltext und metrische Verdeutschung ...'' Lipsiae: Otto Wigand, 1856 {{Ling|Graece|Theodisce}}
* John Schmitt, ed., ''The chronicle of Morea, {{Polytonic|Τὸ χρονικὸν τοῦ Μορέως}}: a history in political verse, relating the establishment of feudalism in Greece by the Franks in the thirteenth century; ed. in two parallel texts from the mss. of Copenhagen and Paris''. Londinii: Methuen, 1904 {{Ling|Graece}}
* Jean Longnon, ed., ''Livre de la conqueste de la princée de l'Amorée''. Lutetiae: Librairie Renouard, 1911. 3 voll. {{Ling|Francogallice}}
* Petrus P. Calonarus, ''{{Polytonic|Χρονικὸν τοῦ Μορέως}}''. Athenis: Demetracus, 1940 {{Ling|Graece}}
* Harold E. Lurier, interpr., ''Crusaders as Conquerors: the Chronicle of Morea''. Novi Eboraci: Columbia University Press, 1964. ISBN 978-0-231-02298-9 {{Ling|Anglice}}
* René Bouchet, interpr., ''Chronique de Morée''. Lutetiae: Belles Lettres, 2005. ISBN:2251339469 {{Ling|Francogallice}}
; Philologica et critica
===Greek text===
* <span id="Shawcross" /> Teresa Shawcross, ''The Chronicle of Morea: Historiography in Crusader Greece''. Oxonii: Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-955700-4
The verses of the Greek text are written in a 15-syllable [[political verse]]. The verses are accented but not rhymed.<ref name="WSmith">William Smith, ''A History of Greece'', R. B. Collins, 1855, p. 579</ref> It is written in the spoken Greek of the time, with the inclusion of several French words.
* Peter Topping, recensio versionis H. E. Lurier in ''Speculum'' vol. 40 (1965) pp. 737–742
== Nexus externi ==
There are two parallel Greek texts, as well as three copies:
*[http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/history/2romanity/to_xronikon_toy_morews.htm Textus] {{Ling|Graece}}
*Ms Havniensis 57 (14th–15th century, in [[Copenhagen]]) 9219 verses
**Ms Taurinensis B.II.I, library of [[Turin]], closely related to the Copenhagen text
*Ms Parisinus graecus 2898 (15th–16th century, at the [[Bibliothèque nationale de France]], [[Paris]]) 8191 verses
**Ms Parisinus graecus 2753 and
**Ms [[Bern]] 509 grec, both copies of the Paris version.
[[Categoria:Libri historici]]
The oldest text is that held in Copenhagen, the language of which is more archaic. The Parisian, more recent, text is simpler in language and has fewer foreign words. The transcriber omitted several anti-Hellenic references, so the overall text expressed less contempt of Greeks.<ref>P. Kolonaros, ''Το Χρονικόν του Μορέως (The Chronicle of Moreas)'', Athens 1940, page η'</ref>
[[Categoria:Carmina epica]]
[[Categoria:Litterae Graecae mediaevales]]
The difference of about one century between the Copenhagen and Parisian version shows a considerable number of linguistic differences due to the rapid evolution of the Greek language. The text of the Copenhagen version describes events until 1292.
[[Categoria:Litterae Francogallice versae]]
[[Categoria:Litterae Italiane versae]]
===French text===
[[Categoria:Litterae lingua Aragonensi versae]]
*[[Royal Library of Belgium]] No 15702
[[Categoria:Libri de expeditionibus sacris]]
This text is known under the title: "The Book of the Conquest of Constantinople and
[[Categoria:Libri de Graecia]]
the Empire of Roumania and the country of the Principality of Morea", since in the [[incipit]], it is indicated "C'est le livre de la conqueste de Constantinople et de l'empire de Romanie, et dou pays de la princée de la Morée"
[[Categoria:Dominia cruce signatorum]]
There are also other copies of the French text:
**National Library, [[Paris]], No. 2753
**University Library of [[Bern]], No.509
Information in this text reaches until the year 1304.
===Italian text===
*''Cronaca di Morea'', is a summary that was compiled later than the previous texts and contains several mistakes. Its source is the text found in the Greek manuscript held in Turin.
===Aragonese text===
*''Libro de los fechos et conquistas del principado de la Morea'', was compiled at the end of the 14th century (around 1395), from the Greek version and other later sources, at the request of the Grand Master [[Jean Fernandez de Heredia]] of the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]].<ref>''Encyclopedic Dictionary'', entry on "Χρονικόν Μωρέως", Eleftheroudakis ed., 1931 (''in Greek'')</ref> It covers events to 1393.
==Which text is the original? Which version came out first?==
It appears that the original text of the ''Chronicle of the Morea'' has been lost.<ref name="Polet"/> Although the [[Aragon]]ese and Italian texts have been clearly identified as later texts, there is no widely accepted consensus on the priority of the Greek or French text.<ref>M. Jeffreys, The Chronicle of the Morea: Priority of the Greek version, BZ 68 (1975) 304-350</ref><ref>A. Panagiotis, Study Medieval Greek, Museum Tusculanum Press, 1992, ISBN 87-7289-163-7</ref><ref>Cyril A. Mango, The Oxford History of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-19-814098-3</ref>
==The Author==
The author of the original text of the chronicle appears to be a Franc or a ''[[Gasmouloi|gasmoule]]'' (a French-Greek, born from a mixed French-Greek marriage, the word seems to have an etymology from ''garçon'' (boy) and ''mule''). He appeared to admire the Franks (Crusaders) and have contempt of the local population and the [[Byzantine Empire|Roman Empire]]. Notably, the author respects the citizenship of the [[Byzantine Greeks]], calling them [[Rhomaioi|Romans (Ρωμαῖοι)]] (especially in verses 1720-1738).
==The significance of the ''Chronicle''==
The ''Chronicle'' is famous in spite of certain historical inaccuracies because of its lively description of life in the feudal community and because of the character of the language which reflects the rapid transition from Medieval to Modern Greek.
Polet<ref name="Polet"/> explains that since the author admired the Franks and had contempt for the Byzantine culture, the ''Chronicle of Morea'' did not become part of popular culture and history after the Franks left the Peloponnese.
Numerous administrative laws and practices of the [[Principality of Achaia]] are mentioned in the Chronicle, making it a significant source on the Frankish period in Greece.<ref>P. Zepos, "Το δίκαιον εις το Χρονικόν του Μορέως (The Law in the Chronicle of the Morea)", ''Επετηρίς Εταιρείας Βυζαντινών Σπουδών (Annals of the Society for Byzantine Studies)'' 18(1948), 202-220, ''in Greek''</ref>
==Language of the ''Chronicle''==
Since the year of the Fall of Constantinople, 1453, marks the symbolic boundary between [[Medieval Greek|Medieval]] and [[Modern Greek]], the ''Chronicle of the Morea'' is generally classified under Medieval Greek.<ref>R. Browning ''Medieval and modern Greek''</ref><ref>G. Horrocks ''Greek: A History of the Language and its Speakers'', London & New York 1997, p. 276-81</ref><ref name=Tonnet>H. Tonnet ''Histoire du grec modèrne'', chapter “la langue médievale” )</ref><ref>[[Emmanuel Kriaras|Kriaras]] in the ''Dictionary of Greek Medieval Vernacular Literature'' includes the Chronicle in his sources [http://195.251.48.156/greekLang/medieval_greek/bibliographies/sources/contents.html]
</ref> However, the ''Chronicle of the Morea'', along with the [[Ptochoprodromic poems]] and [[acritic songs]] are considered as the beginnings of [[modern Greek literature]]. They are classified as part of both "Byzantine / medieval vernacular" and "(early) modern Greek" literature.
<ref name=Tonnet/><ref>N. Andriotes - History of the Greek language</ref>
==The first editions in print==
The first printed edition of the ''Chronicle'' was published in 1840 by J.A. Buchon. It contained the Greek text from Paris.<ref name="Bury"/><ref>J.A. Buchon, ''Chroniques etrangères relatives aux expéditions françaises pendant le xiii siécle'', 1840</ref>
Buchon named the book ''Βιβλίον της κουγκέστας του Μωραίως'' (Book of the conquest of Morea), a different title than the text. The second printed edition of the Chronicle was that of the Greek text from Copenhagen, published by Buchon in 1845.<ref>J.A. Buchon, ''Recherches historiques sur la principauté française de Morée et ses hautes baronies'' (1845)</ref> In 1889 John Schmitt published both texts of the Copenhagen and Paris manuscripts side by side.
<ref>John Schmitt, ''Die Chronik von Morea'', Munich, 1889</ref>
<ref>John Schmitt, ''The Chronicle of Morea, [To Chronikon Tou Moreōs] A history in political verse, relating the establishment of feudalism in Greece by the Franks in the thirteenth century'', Methuen & Co., London, 1904</ref>
===The first text===
The book begins with a prologue of 1302 verses. The first three verses are<ref name="WSmith"/>:
:I will tell a tale to thee rehearse, a tale of import mighty
:And if attention you do lend, I hope the tale will please you
:T'is how the Frank by arms did gain the realm of fair Morea
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*[http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/history/2romanity/to_xronikon_toy_morews.htm The original text of the Chronicle of Morea]
*''Crusaders as Conquerors: the Chronicle of Morea'' translated from the Greek with notes and introduction by [[Harold E. Lurier]], Columbia University Press, 1964. ISBN 978-0-231-02298-9.
*Peter Topping, Review of H.E. Lurier, ''Crusaders as Conquerors: the Chronicle of Morea'', in ''[[Speculum (journal)|Speculum]]'', Vol. 40, No. 4 (Oct 1965), pp. 737–742.\
* Shawcross, C. Teresa, ''The Chronicle of Morea: Historiography in Crusader Greec''e (Oxford, OUP, 2009) (Oxford Studies in Byzantium).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chronicle Of The Morea}}
[[Category:13th-century history books]]
[[Category:Byzantine literature]]
[[Category:Crusade literature]]
[[Category:Chronicles|Morea]]
[[Category:Medieval Peloponnese]]
| 