Gallus Anonymus

Anna Adamska (Universiteit Utrecht)

Ed. by Roman Koropeckyj, University of California, Los Angeles
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.8.3: Polish Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Roman Koropeckyj (University of California, Los Angeles), Ewa M. Thompson (Rice University)

Dates

Born c. 1050
Died c. 1116

Places

Active in Hungary; Poland

Activities

Primary

Historian / Chronicler

Resources

Gallus' Works

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The so-called Gallus Anonymus (Gall Anonim in Polish) was the author of the first medieval narrative about the history of Poland. His

Chronicae et Gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum

(

GpP

) [

The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles

], composed in the early twelfth century, possess much valuable information and great artistic merit. The identity of the author, together with many features of the text, has been the subject of study and of fervent scholarly polemics for some two hundred years, insofar as it can be deduced only from bits of information found in the work and from the shape of the text itself. The author's identification is impeded also by the fact that no autograph or early copy of the account survive. It is preserved only in three late medieval manuscripts: the version in the late…

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3167 words

Citation: Adamska, Anna. "Gallus Anonymus". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 November 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13915, accessed 26 December 2024.]

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