John of Viktring
Encyclopedia
John of Viktring was a late medieval chronicler and political advisor to the rulers of Carinthia
. He is also known as Johannes Victorensis, Johannes de Victoria, John of Victring, Johann von Viktring, or Jo(h)annes Victoriensis. In Slovene he is called Janez Vetrinjski.
Nothing is known of John's early life. In 1307 he became abbot
of the Cistercian monastery of Viktring
, near Klagenfurt
in the Duchy of Carinthia. He was later both chaplain and confidential secretary to the Carinthian duke Henry of Gorizia-Tyrol. Upon the duke's death in 1335, John journeyed to the city of Linz
at the request of the Henry's daughter, Margarete Maultasch, to defend her claims to her father's estates before the Emperor Louis IV of Wittelsbach
. Nevertheless the two Austrian
dukes, Albert II of Habsburg
and his brother Otto the Merry
, took possession of the contested Carinthian lands in her stead, and thereby became the lords of Viktring Abbey. They too learned to value the abbot's abilities and consulted him in all important government matters. He frequently stayed at their residence in Vienna
as a confidential secretary until 1341, when he withdrew to the quiet of his monastery to write a history of his own time.
His chronicle, which he titled Liber certarum historiarum ("Book of certain histories"), has come down to us in various forms. In its original form, as preserved in a manuscript at the Bavarian State Library
in Munich
, it is a history of the Austrian and Carinthian lands from the accession of the last Babenberg duke Frederick II the Warlike
in 1230 until 1341, dedicated to the Habsburg duke Albert II. The information on the earlier period was based on the rhyming chronicle of the medieval historian Ottokar from Gaal
and the works by Martin of Opava
, while the rest was written from data which he himself had collected during his many travels.
In 1342, he enlarged the book into a chronicle of the Holy Roman Empire
, which began with the year 1217. He rewrote it again in 1343, this time beginning with the Carolingian
period. This revised work has only reached us through a later compilation, the so-called Chronicon Anonymi Leobiensis. John ranks among the most important chroniclers of the late Middle Ages. He was a very learned man and well acquainted with the Latin and Greek poets. His narrative is lucid, and his judgments on the events of his own time show great impartiality. He is influenced by Otto of Freising
, and condemns in his chronicle the anti-Roman policy of Emperor Louis.
Duchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
. He is also known as Johannes Victorensis, Johannes de Victoria, John of Victring, Johann von Viktring, or Jo(h)annes Victoriensis. In Slovene he is called Janez Vetrinjski.
Nothing is known of John's early life. In 1307 he became abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the Cistercian monastery of Viktring
Viktring Abbey
Viktring Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Stift Viktring is now the name of the Roman Catholic parish in Viktring, since 1973 a district of the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt.-History:...
, near Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt
-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...
in the Duchy of Carinthia. He was later both chaplain and confidential secretary to the Carinthian duke Henry of Gorizia-Tyrol. Upon the duke's death in 1335, John journeyed to the city of Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
at the request of the Henry's daughter, Margarete Maultasch, to defend her claims to her father's estates before the Emperor Louis IV of Wittelsbach
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
. Nevertheless the two Austrian
Archduchy of Austria
The Archduchy of Austria , one of the most important states within the Holy Roman Empire, was the nucleus of the Habsburg Monarchy and the predecessor of the Austrian Empire...
dukes, Albert II of Habsburg
Albert II, Duke of Austria
Albert II of Austria , known as the Wise or the Lame, was Duke of Austria.-Life:Albert II was born at Habsburg, the son of Albert I of Germany, Rex Romanorum, and Elisabeth of Tirol...
and his brother Otto the Merry
Otto, Duke of Austria
Otto IV, the Merry was a Duke of Austria and the youngest son of Albert I of Germany and Elisabeth of Tirol.Otto was born in Vienna. He had two brothers, namely Frederick the Handsome and Albert II...
, took possession of the contested Carinthian lands in her stead, and thereby became the lords of Viktring Abbey. They too learned to value the abbot's abilities and consulted him in all important government matters. He frequently stayed at their residence in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
as a confidential secretary until 1341, when he withdrew to the quiet of his monastery to write a history of his own time.
His chronicle, which he titled Liber certarum historiarum ("Book of certain histories"), has come down to us in various forms. In its original form, as preserved in a manuscript at the Bavarian State Library
Bavarian State Library
The Bavarian State Library in Munich is the central "Landesbibliothek", i. e. the state library of the Free State of Bavaria and one of Europe's most important universal libraries. With its collections currently comprising around 9.39 million books, it ranks among the best research libraries...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, it is a history of the Austrian and Carinthian lands from the accession of the last Babenberg duke Frederick II the Warlike
Frederick II, Duke of Austria
Frederick II, known as the Quarrelsome or the Warlike , from the House of Babenberg, was the duke of Austria and Styria from 1230 to 1246....
in 1230 until 1341, dedicated to the Habsburg duke Albert II. The information on the earlier period was based on the rhyming chronicle of the medieval historian Ottokar from Gaal
Gaal, Austria
Gaal is a municipality in the district of Knittelfeld in Styria, Austria....
and the works by Martin of Opava
Martin of Opava
Martin of Opava, also known as Martin of Poland, was a 13th century chronicler.Known in Latin as Frater Martinus Ordinis Praedicatorum , he is believed to have been born, at an unknown date, in the Silesian town of Opava , thus sometimes called Martinus Oppaviensis, or also Martinus Polonus...
, while the rest was written from data which he himself had collected during his many travels.
In 1342, he enlarged the book into a chronicle of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, which began with the year 1217. He rewrote it again in 1343, this time beginning with the Carolingian
Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
period. This revised work has only reached us through a later compilation, the so-called Chronicon Anonymi Leobiensis. John ranks among the most important chroniclers of the late Middle Ages. He was a very learned man and well acquainted with the Latin and Greek poets. His narrative is lucid, and his judgments on the events of his own time show great impartiality. He is influenced by Otto of Freising
Otto of Freising
Otto von Freising was a German bishop and chronicler.-Life:He was the fifth son of Leopold III, margrave of Austria, by his wife Agnes, daughter of the emperor Henry IV...
, and condemns in his chronicle the anti-Roman policy of Emperor Louis.