Chronicle of 1234
Encyclopedia
The Chronicle of 1234 is an anonymous West Syriac universal history
from Creation
until AD 1234. The unknown author was probably from Edessa
. The Chronicle only survives in fragments, from which it is known to be divided into two parts: the first on ecclesiastical history
, the second on secular. It was critically edited and translated by the French
Orientalist
Jean-Baptiste Chabot in 1920.
Unique among Syriac chronicles it depends in part on the Book of Jubilees. The author also used the lost Ecclesiastical History of Dionysius of Tell Maḥrē for his coverage of the eighth through ninth centuries. He also uses Theophilus of Edessa
(possibly through an Arabic
translator) and al-Azdī, an Arabic author. Some of Theophilus history now lost to us survives in the Chronicle of 1234, such as his account of the Trojan War
. The Chronicle also uses the late twelfth-century correspondence of the Syriac patriarch Michael the Great
for its most recent history.
The Chronicle of 1234 is best as a primary source
for events surrounding the Crusades
and the Kingdom of Cilicia in the late twelfth century and early thirteenth.
Universal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
from Creation
Creation according to Genesis
The Genesis creation narrative describes the divine creation of the world including the first man and woman...
until AD 1234. The unknown author was probably from Edessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
. The Chronicle only survives in fragments, from which it is known to be divided into two parts: the first on ecclesiastical history
Ecclesiastical History
Ecclesiastical History or ecclesiastical history may refer to:*Ecclesiastical history *Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum by Bede*Church History , pioneer work on the Christian Church by Eusebius of Caesarea...
, the second on secular. It was critically edited and translated by the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
Jean-Baptiste Chabot in 1920.
Unique among Syriac chronicles it depends in part on the Book of Jubilees. The author also used the lost Ecclesiastical History of Dionysius of Tell Maḥrē for his coverage of the eighth through ninth centuries. He also uses Theophilus of Edessa
Theophilus of Edessa
Theophilus of Edessa , also known as Theophilus ibn Tuma and Thawafil, was a Greek medieval astrologer and scholar in Mesopotamia...
(possibly through an Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
translator) and al-Azdī, an Arabic author. Some of Theophilus history now lost to us survives in the Chronicle of 1234, such as his account of the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
. The Chronicle also uses the late twelfth-century correspondence of the Syriac patriarch Michael the Great
Michael the Syrian
Michael the Syrian , also known as Michael the Great or Michael Syrus or Michael the Elder, to distinguish him from his nephew, was a patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1166 to 1199. He is best known today as the author of the largest medieval Chronicle, which he composed in Syriac...
for its most recent history.
The Chronicle of 1234 is best as a primary source
Primary source
Primary source is a term used in a number of disciplines to describe source material that is closest to the person, information, period, or idea being studied....
for events surrounding the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
and the Kingdom of Cilicia in the late twelfth century and early thirteenth.
External links
- The Chronicle of 1234 at the Encyclopedia of Syriac Literature