Chronica Slavorum

The Chronica Slavorum ( Slavs Chronicle ), written by Helmold of Bosau, describes the eastern settlement and the evangelization of the Slavs, especially from Otto I.. It deals primarily with the rule of formation, settlement and mission in East Holstein, Mecklenburg and Pomerania, but also in Brandenburg and Scandinavia. This Helmold quite accurately describes the religion, culture and society of the pagan tribes east of the Elbe, which are referred to in modern research as Elbe and Baltic Slavs. In distinguishing between the tribes on the Baltic Sea in the first chapter he raises the Pruci / Prussians, he considers mistaken for Slavs, because of their " virtues" out; they serve as a projection screen for criticism of the Christians. The focus of his chronicle (108 chapters) deals with the historical events in the Slavic region between Kiel ( Wagrians ) on the Mecklenburg ( Obotrites ) and Rügen ( Ranen ) to Szczecin ( Pomeranians ), which is about the Bill Unger Mark, in the time of Charlemagne to 1168th

Helmold used as sources especially Adam of Bremen, the vitae Willehads and Ansgar, supplemented by oral tradition and personal experience. Helmold Slavs Chronicle considered the most important source font Lower Germany the 12th century. Arnold of Lübeck continued the chronicle ( Chronica Arnoldi Slavorum ) continued from 1171 to 1209. Ernst von Kirchberg she transferred 1378/79 in high German rhyme. The earliest edition was published by Schorkel (Frankfurt 1556 ).