Bernese Chronicle
Encyclopedia
The Bernese Chronicle contains information about the early history of the city of Bern.
The Bernese Chronicle was composed in 1430 by Conrad Justinger
from Bern. According to Müller
, Justinger was entrusted by the Bernese council under the chairmanship of its mayor Rudolf Hofmeister to chronicle the history of his hometown Bern from its foundation until the present time.
By Justinger’s own account, the Bernese Chronicle is primarily based on documents that were stored in the archives of the city of Bern in the early 14th century
. Furthermore, Justinger used the Narratio conflictus apud Laupen (Latin: ‘Narrative of the conflict at Laupen’) as well as the annals of the cathedral of Bern (Cronica de Berno) as sources for his chronicle.
Even if Justinger’s monumental work appears to have been considerably influenced by older chronicles from Strasbourg
, Basle, Constance
and Zurich
, researchers are generally agreed that the Bernese Chronicle constitutes the earliest record of the cruelties of the Habsburg
governors towards the population of the Forest Cantons.
Justinger’s Bernese Chronicle had a deep impact on the historiography of Switzerland
. Although the original manuscript
of the Bernese Chronicle is lost with the exception of 2½ leaves, its text has, nevertheless, been preserved in a single manuscript contained in the archive of the University of Jena.
The Bernese Chronicle was composed in 1430 by Conrad Justinger
Conrad Justinger
Conrad Justinger was probably born in Strasbourg. Justinger, who had learned the trade of a chronicler in his home-town, appears to have moved to the city of Bern in the last quarter of the 14th century...
from Bern. According to Müller
Müller
The German word Müller means "miller" . It is the most common family surname in Germany and Switzerland and the fifth most common surname in Austria . Other forms are "Miller" and "Möller"...
, Justinger was entrusted by the Bernese council under the chairmanship of its mayor Rudolf Hofmeister to chronicle the history of his hometown Bern from its foundation until the present time.
By Justinger’s own account, the Bernese Chronicle is primarily based on documents that were stored in the archives of the city of Bern in the early 14th century
14th century
As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was the century which lasted from January 1, 1301 to December 31, 1400.-Events:* The transition from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age....
. Furthermore, Justinger used the Narratio conflictus apud Laupen (Latin: ‘Narrative of the conflict at Laupen’) as well as the annals of the cathedral of Bern (Cronica de Berno) as sources for his chronicle.
Even if Justinger’s monumental work appears to have been considerably influenced by older chronicles from Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Basle, Constance
Constance
Constance is a female given name that derives from Latin and means "constant." Variations of the name include Connie, Constancia, Constanze, Constanza, Stanzy, and Konstanze.Constance may refer to:-People:*Constance Bennett , American actress...
and Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, researchers are generally agreed that the Bernese Chronicle constitutes the earliest record of the cruelties of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
governors towards the population of the Forest Cantons.
Justinger’s Bernese Chronicle had a deep impact on the historiography of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Although the original manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
of the Bernese Chronicle is lost with the exception of 2½ leaves, its text has, nevertheless, been preserved in a single manuscript contained in the archive of the University of Jena.