Swiss illustrated chronicles
Encyclopedia
Chronicle
Generally a chronicle is a historical account of facts and events ranged in chronological order, as in a time line. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events, the purpose being the recording of events that occurred, seen from the perspective of the...
s were created in the Old Swiss Confederacy
Old Swiss Confederacy
The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
in the 15th and 16th centuries. They were luxurious illuminated manuscript
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
s produced for the urban elite of Bern and Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, and their copious detailed illustrations allow a unique insight into the politics and daily life of late medieval 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....
on the eve of the Reformation
Reformation in Switzerland
The Protestant Reformation in Switzerland was promoted initially by Huldrych Zwingli, who gained the support of the magistrate and population of Zürich in the 1520s. It led to significant changes in civil life and state matters in Zürich and spread to several other cantons of the Old Swiss...
. The most important of these chronicles are the works of the two Diebold Schillings, their luxurious execution, as well as their content reflecting the growing confidence and self-esteem of the leaders of the confederacy after their spectacular successes in the Burgundian Wars
Burgundian Wars
The Burgundian Wars were a conflict between the Dukes of Burgundy and the Kings of France, later involving the Old Swiss Confederacy, which would play a decisive role. Open war broke out in 1474, and in the following years the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, was defeated three times on the...
.
- 1423 Konrad Justinger's chronicle (Bern) the original was lost, but a copy of the text survives in JenaJenaJena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
. - 1470 the "TschachtlanchronikTschachtlanchronikThe Tschachtlanchronik of 1470 is the oldest of the still existing Swiss illustrated chronicles, compiled by Bendicht Tschachtlan and Heinrich Dittlinger of Berne. The chronicle is now kept in Zentralbibliothek Zürich, where a facsimile can be viewed....
" by Bendict Tschachtlan und Heinrich Dittlinger (Bern, now kept in ZürichZürichZurich 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...
) - Diebold Schilling the ElderDiebold Schilling the ElderDiebold Schilling the Elder was the author of several of the Swiss illustrated chronicles, the "Berner Schilling of 1483, the "Spiezer Schilling" , and the "Zürcher Schilling" of 1484....
, Bern:- 1483 the "Berner SchillingBerner SchillingThe Berner Schilling is a chronicle of Diebold Schilling the Elder of Berne , covering the history of the Old Swiss Confederacy up to the Burgundian Wars....
", three volumes, covering the time from the foundation of Bern up to and including the Burgundy Wars. - 1480s "Spiezer SchillingSpiezer SchillingSpiezer Schilling is a chronicle by Diebold Schilling the Elder of Bern , created after the Berner Schilling.See Swiss illustrated chronicles....
", a shorter one-volume edition - 1484 "Zürcher SchillingZürcher SchillingZürcher Schilling is the latest chronicle of Diebold Schilling the Elder of Bern , treating the Burgundian Wars. It is kept in the central library in Zürich....
" (kept in Zürich)
- 1483 the "Berner Schilling
- 1515 "Luzerner SchillingLuzerner SchillingThe Luzerner Schilling is an illuminated manuscript of 1513, containing the chronicle of the history of the Swiss Confederation written by Diebold Schilling the Younger of Lucerne....
" by Diebold Schilling the YoungerDiebold Schilling the YoungerDiebold Schilling the Younger was the author of the "Luzerner Schilling", one of the Swiss illustrated chronicles, which he presented to the city council of Lucerne on 15 January 1513 . He was the nephew of Diebold Schilling the Elder of Berne...
, nephew of Diebold the Elder's. - 1515 Chronicle of Wernher Schodeler of BremgartenBremgartenThe name Bremgarten may refer to several places:*In Germany**Bremgarten is a little village, near Freiburg im Breisgau , Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg*In Switzerland**Bremgarten bei Bern, in the Canton of Bern...
. - 1529 - 1546 Berner Chronik of Valerius AnshelmValerius AnshelmValerius Anshelm , born as Valerius Rüd , was a Swiss chronicler working in Bern.Anshelm was born in Rottweil, a city in Swabia that was allied with the Old Swiss Confederacy. His grandfather „Boley der Rüd genannt Anshelm“ had fought on the side of the Eidgenossen in the Burgundy Wars...
. - 1576 Christoph Silberysen's compendium.
- 1587 "WickianaWickianaThe Wickiana by Johann Jakob Wick of Zürich is a collection of notices assembled in 24 volumes between 1560 and 1587. It is an important source for the period of the Reformation in Switzerland....
" by Johann Jakob Wick, a compilation of various manuscripts and printsOld master printAn old master print is a work of art produced by a printing process within the Western tradition . A date of about 1830 is usually taken as marking the end of the period whose prints are covered by this term. The main techniques concerned are woodcut, engraving and etching, although there are...
. - 1626/1631 Schweitzer-Chronic by Michael Stettler of Bern.