Austrian Chronicle of 95 Seigneurs
Encyclopedia
The Austrian Chronicle of 95 Seigneurs (Österreichische Chronik von den 95 Herrschaften ) of Leopold von Wien (formerly known as Leopold Steinreuter) of Vienna
(lived ca. 1340-1400) is a 14th century chronicle compiled by order of Albert III, Duke of Austria
.
The chronicle is notable for recording legendary history from the time of Noah
, constructing a fictional ancestry of the Dukes of Austria connecting them with biblical rulers of the Kingdom of Israel. It exerted considerable influence on 15th century Austrian historiography, a fact underscored by its preservation in more than 50 manuscripts (among these Cod. 2820 foll. 33ra-171vb in the Austrian National Library
).
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the popularity of the chronicle waned rapidly due to its obviously fictional content, and it remained inedited until the early 20th century.
Since its edition, it has played a certain role in pseudohistory
, in particular in US American Biblical literalism
, in publications such as those of Herman L. Hoeh and Herbert W. Armstrong
of the Worldwide Church of God
, who took the chronicle's genealogies at face value to postulate that, e.g.,
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...
(lived ca. 1340-1400) is a 14th century chronicle compiled by order of Albert III, Duke of Austria
Albert III, Duke of Austria
Albert III of Austria , known as Albert with the Pigtail , was a duke of Austria and a member of the House of Habsburg.-Life:...
.
The chronicle is notable for recording legendary history from the time of Noah
Noah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
, constructing a fictional ancestry of the Dukes of Austria connecting them with biblical rulers of the Kingdom of Israel. It exerted considerable influence on 15th century Austrian historiography, a fact underscored by its preservation in more than 50 manuscripts (among these Cod. 2820 foll. 33ra-171vb in the Austrian National Library
Austrian National Library
The Austrian National Library , is the largest library in Austria, with 7.4 million items in its collections. It is located in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna; since 2005 some of the collections are located in the baroque Palais Mollard-Clary...
).
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the popularity of the chronicle waned rapidly due to its obviously fictional content, and it remained inedited until the early 20th century.
Since its edition, it has played a certain role in pseudohistory
Pseudohistory
Pseudohistory is a pejorative term applied to a type of historical revisionism, often involving sensational claims whose acceptance would require rewriting a significant amount of commonly accepted history, and based on methods that depart from standard historiographical conventions.Cryptohistory...
, in particular in US American Biblical literalism
Biblical literalism
Biblical literalism is the interpretation or translation of the explicit and primary sense of words in the Bible. A literal Biblical interpretation is associated with the fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to Scripture, and is used almost exclusively by conservative Christians...
, in publications such as those of Herman L. Hoeh and Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong
Herbert W. Armstrong founded the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1930s, as well as Ambassador College in 1946, and was an early pioneer of radio and tele-evangelism, originally taking to the airwaves in the 1930s from Eugene, Oregon...
of the Worldwide Church of God
Worldwide Church of God
Grace Communion International , formerly the Worldwide Church of God , is an evangelical Christian denomination based in Glendora, California, United States. Since April 3, 2009, it has used the new name Grace Communion International in the US...
, who took the chronicle's genealogies at face value to postulate that, e.g.,
- "European civilization — and its history — is as old as Egypt's. But it has been suppressed. Not since the close of the seventeenth century has it been allowed to be taught publicly." (Hoeh (1963), vol. 2 ch. 3http://www.earth-history.com/Various/Compendium/hhc2ch03.htm)
Edition
- Joseph Seemüller (ed.), Österreichische Chronik von den 95 Herrschaften, Monumenta Germaniae HistoricaMonumenta Germaniae HistoricaThe Monumenta Germaniae Historica is a comprehensive series of carefully edited and published sources for the study of German history from the end of the Roman Empire to 1500.The society sponsoring the series was established by the Prussian reformer Heinrich Friedrich Karl Freiherr vom...
(Deutsche Chroniken 6.1, 1909), 1980 reprint: ISBN 3921575532 (facsimile)