The Oldest Legend
Acts of the Canonization Process, and Miracles of Saint Margaret of Hungary
Professor Gabor Klaniczay editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Central European University Press
Published:10th Jan '18
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This bilingual volume (Latin text with English translation) is the second in the series presenting hagiographical narratives from medieval Central Europe. It contains the most important hagiographical corpus of medieval Hungarian history: that of Saint Margaret (1242–1270), daughter of King Béla IV, who lived her life as a Dominican nun. Margaret’s cult started immediately after her death and the demand to examine her sanctity was first formulated in 1272. The canonization process recommenced in 1276, followed by further initiatives across the centuries. Margaret was eventually canonized only in 1943. Besides the full Latin text and the English translation of her oldest legend, written between 1272 and 1275, this volume contains the acts of the 110 testimonies of the papal investigation concerning her sainthood, recorded between July and October 1276 and prepared from existing source editions. In addition, the editors include a series of recently discovered documents, including a petition by the bishop of Várad (Oradea) to promote the cause, and the notarial records of a set of miracles that occurred at Margaret's grave in the second half of the fifteenth century. The book ends with a selected bibliography of Saint Margaret and of her hagiography.
"The volume will be of interest not only to scholars of medieval hagiography, but also those interested in the insights into everyday life in the cloister, in towns and villages, and in general life in thirteenth century Hungary. Besides translating the known important sources, the editing and translating of hitherto unknown documents gives the volume an added value." * Hungarian Historical Review *
"Sale a la luz un proyecto que arrancó en la década de 1980, pero que, por diversas circunstancia no ha podido culminarse hasta fechas recientes, como apunta Gábor Klaniczay, y cuya demora, sin embargo, ha hecho posible la incorporación de un material inédito. Se trata de un valioso y bello libro que brinda la posibilidad de acercarse a unas fuentes que ilustran el interesante y prolongado proceso de canonización de la princesa Margarita de Hungría." * Medievalia *
"Le long délai dans la gestation de l’ouvrage a eu un avantage: dans l’intervalle, B. Péterfi, un étudiant de G. Klaniczay, a découvert, en 2011, dans les Archives de la famille Orsini, trois documents médiévaux inédits intéressant le dossier de canonisation de Marguerite. Ceux-ci ont été intégrés au volume, à côté d’autres actes significatifs déjà publiés. L’intérêt de ces Actes, outre leur valeur documentaire intrinsèque, est aussi d’illustrer le choc culturel que constitua le nouvel idéal religieux incarné par Marguerite, aux antipodes de celui de la communauté traditionnelle et aristocratique qui l’hébergeait. On le voit: ce volume – pourvu d’une bibliographie, d’un index, et d’une annexe relative aux textes hagiographiques écrits en l’honneur de Marguerite –, a peut-être mis du temps à paraître, mais cela valait la peine de patienter." -- François DE VRIENDT * Analecta Bollandiana *
ISBN: 9789633862186
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
850 pages
Annotated edition