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"Chronica Polonorum" by Vincentius Bishop of Cracow
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Abstract
The first English critical edition of the "Chronica Polonorum". The Chronica Polonorum by Bishop Vincentius of Cracow (c.1150–1223) was written in last decades of the twelfth century, a period when the throne of Poland was contested by rival members of the ruling Piast dynasty in a series of bloody civil wars. Vincentius was born in Poland c.1150 and probably studied in Italy and France, where he acquired his education and perfected his literary skill. After his return to Poland between 1183 and 1189, he became a canon of the cathedral of Cracow and a courtier close to Kazimierz II. Kazimierz had ruled as the princeps since 1177. After 1194 Vincentius became a provost in Sandomierz and chaplain to Kazimierz’s widow, Helena of Znojmo. Vincentius started work on the Chronicle in the late 1180s or the early 1190s at the behest of Kazimierz II. He had completed his text before 1208 when he was elected bishop of Cracow, one of the leading ecclesiastical offices in Piast Poland. During his pontificate he took part in the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) and was active in the implementation of the Gregorian Reform in his diocese. In 1218 Vincentius resigned his episcopacy to enter the Cistercian convent in Jędrzejów where he may have edited the final manuscript of the Chronicle. He died in 1223. The Chronicle provides an outline of the history of the Poles with particular emphasis on the events of the twelfth century which justified Kazimierz’s claim to the throne of Cracow and with it suzerainty of all Poland. Created against the background of the twelfth-century renaissance, it was written by a native Pole and demonstrates the erudition of the Polish elite and the recognition and appreciation of literary skill by the ruling dynasty. Vincentius offers a commentary on patterns of human behaviour, and his own view of morality through an elaborate use of philosophical and poetic digression and didactic admonition, sourced primarily from the works of philosophers, the poets of Antiquity and the Bible. Classical authors, including Ovid, Virgil and Horace, are quoted on some 150 occasions; biblical texts appear in approximately 140 instances, with the most numerous quotations taken from the Old Testament, particularly the Books of Kings and the Book of Psalms. This broad base of reference suggests that Vincentius directed his work towards a sophisticated, classically-educated readership that could understand and appreciate the complex plot, refined poetic form and many literary references..
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7/26/2016 Chronica Polonorum | Darius von Guettner
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Chronica Polonorum
Chronica Polonorum – ”ishop Vincentius of Cracow also known as Kadłubek
Translated by Darius von Gue뤬ner
Prologue
[ ]
There were three of them who for three reasons hated theatrical performances. The rst one Codrus,
the second “lcibiades, and the third Diogenes. Codrus was poor and covered with rags[ ], “lcibiades
was unusually handsome[ ], and Diogenes was both well‑mannered and wise.[ ] The rst of them,
did not want to expose his poverty to wake laughter and general ridicule the second did not want to
expose himself to the danger of curses the third did not want to waste the irreproachable majesty of
wisdom on scurrilous disregard. Codrus preferred to avoid watching others rather than make a
contemptuous spectacle of himself because there is no cordial alliance between the purple and the
rag. “lso “lcibiades rather preferred to hide at home without receiving praise than to boast about his
beauty and risk its loss because nothing is by nature so glamorous that the look of blinded jealousy
cannot bewitch it. Prudence ordered Diogenes to despise the company of plebs because it is be뤬er to
enjoy reverence in solitude than to experience contempt brought by familiarity.
[ ]
The stern dryness of this small book and its barren austerity is a protection from the curiosity of
“lcibiades. Equally, the fear of curses is a superstition that does not touch us as an ugly man has
nothing to lose from an assessment of his looks. Diogenes’ opinion, albeit inspired, doesn’t trouble
us, as wisdom has not favoured us with a droplet of its grace. It is Codrus only who frightens us,
because our poverty, exposed to the open mocking of strangers, possesses not even a rag with which
it could cover its indignity.
However, we are not supposed to frisk with maidens amongst muses in Diana’s[ ] lively dances but
face the judgement of the venerable senate.[ ] fie are not to blow into idyllic pipes made from the
marsh reed, but we are asked to praise the golden foundation of our homeland. fie are to recover
from the depths of the oblivion, not clay gurines, but real images of our forebears and to carve them
in ancient ivory. fihat’s more, we are summoned, in order to hang cressets of divine light in the royal
castle and at the same time to bear the labours of war.
[ ]
There is a difference between undertaking something under the in uence of unreserved recklessness,
from desire for showing off, from desire for pro t, and the ful lment of commanding demands of
necessity. For me however it is not a passion of writing that prompts me, not desire for celebrity that
incites me, nor a sudden eagerness to pro t that emblazes me that after experiencing this many
delights at sea, after repeatedly breaking oneself on the shores and laboriously ge뤬ing out to the
shore, I felt again like breaking on the same shores. It is only for a donkey that the thistle tastes be뤬er
than le뤬uce and only somebody completely naive is going to be lured by a tasteless sweetness.
[ ]
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7/26/2016 Chronica Polonorum | Darius von Guettner
[ ]
It is unfair, however, to refuse the execution of a just order. The bravest of princes understood
certainly that all evidence of bravery, all indications of goodness are re ected in examples of
ancestors as if in mirrors.[ ] It is safer to travel with a guide who leads the way, when the light is
moving on before us, and the amiable customs of the past are full of examples to follow. Desiring so,
in his generosity to allow posterity to participate in virtues of great‑grandfathers, on me the scribe, on
the feather as bri뤬le as the reed, on the shoulders of a dwarf, the prince placed this burden of “tlas.
[ ] ”y no other reason he [the prince] was probably guided by than by the understanding, that the
gli뤬er of gold, the lustre of jewels isn’t losing value through the ineptitude of the artist [rendering
them] likewise the stars, pointed at with ngers of the hideous Ethiopians, are not dimed, because
the thoroughness of a master is not required in order to clean up the iron of rust, to separate gold
from clinker.
It would be a nonsense to struggle with the burden, from which one can free oneself.[ ] I will be
carrying it as far as I am able, provided that I am accompanied by those who from the beginning of
this journey with an affectionate heart will favour me and who won’t be surprised if I stumble on a
slope or slip. Thanks to their friendly inducement let the burden cease to be a burden and the toil
cease to be a toil. For the reason that, good company is on the road as the travelling cart.[ ]
In the end I am asking that not everyone be allowed to judge us before they thoroughly understand
us, but only those who are recommended by the elegant mind or outstanding re nement. Indeed the
ginger tastes only when chewed and nothing will captivate us if we will glance at it but casually
because it would be uncivil to judge the ma뤬er without studying it accurately. Thus one who is
frugal with praise let him be restrained in criticizing.[ ]
[ ] Codrus. Most likely reference to the poverty‑ stricken poet in the rst Satire of Juvenal wri뤬en in
the late st and early nd centuries “D. The context suggests against Codrus the last of the semi‑
mythical Kings of “thens r. ca ‑ ”C , although Vincentius will refer to him in II. Cf.
Justinius, Epitome in Trogi Pompeii Historias, II. .
[ ] “lcibiades Cleiniou Scambonides c. – ”C . “n “thenian statesman, orator, and general.
Thucydides reprehended him for his political conduct and motives and for being exceedingly
ambitious . Plutarch regards him as the least scrupulous and most entirely careless of human
beings . “ristotle does not include “lcibiades in the list of the best “thenian politicians, but in
Posterior “nalytics he argues that traits of a proud man like “lcibiades are equanimity amid the
vicissitudes of life and impatience of dishonour . Cornelius Nepos concluded that “lcibiades
surpassed all the “thenians in grandeur and magni cence of living . Cf. Justinius, Epitome in Trogi
Pompeii Historias, V. .
[ ] Diogenes the Cynic c. – ”C . “ Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic
philosophy.
[ ] Dione, in Greek mythology the mother of “phrodite.
[ ] sacer senatus. Cf. Juvenal, Satires, flI. .
[ ] Casimir II = Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy.
[ ] “tlas = one of the titans. He supported the heavens with his shoulders. The phrase could be a
reference to ”ernard of Chartres d. aft , philosopher and scholar. fie are like dwarfs standing
upon the shoulders of giants, and so able to see more and see farther than the ancients.
[ ] Seneca, De moribus Stultum timere quod vitare non possis.
[ ] Publilius Syrus, Sententiae Comes facundus in via pro vehiculo est = “n eloquent comrade
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7/26/2016 Chronica Polonorum | Darius von Guettner
[ ] Publilius Syrus, Sententiae Comes facundus in via pro vehiculo est = “n eloquent comrade
shortens the trip.
[ ] Seneca, De formula honestae vitae, Lauda parce, vitupera parcius
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